But I suppose
you thought you must go there first."
"That is what I thought," I answered.
"Have you been thinking about her all the time you have been away?"
"Nearly all the time."
"And actually cut off a big slice of your vacation in order to see
her?"
I replied that this was precisely the state of the case.
"But, after all, you weren't successful. You need not tell me anything
about that--I knew it as soon as I saw you this morning. But I will
ask you to answer one thing: Is the decision final?"
I sighed--I could not help it, but she did not even smile. "Yes," I
said, "the affair is settled definitely."
For a minute or so we walked on silently, and then she said: "I do not
want you to think I am hard-hearted, but I must say what is in me. I
congratulate you, and, at the same time, I am sorry for her."
At this amazing speech I turned suddenly towards her, and we both
stopped.
"Yes," said she, standing before me with her clear eyes fixed upon my
face, "you are to be congratulated.
Pages:
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234