With a hasty apology I dashed on. Beyond doubt
she loved me! And she was honest enough not to conceal it. I
hate mock modesty. I longed to show her how truly I returned her
love, and I rejoiced that there need be no tedious preliminaries.
Mary and I understood one another. A kiss would be the seal of
our love--and the most suitable beginning of our conversation.
"In five minutes I was in the wood. Just before I disappeared
among its trees I heard someone calling `Monsieur, monsieur!'
It sounded like the voice of the head waiter, but I wouldn't have
stopped for fifty head waiters. I took the path Mary had
indicated and ran along it at the top of my speed. Suddenly, to
my joy, I caught sight of the figure of a girl; she was seated on
a mound of grass, and, though her face was from me, I made no
doubt it was Mary. She wore the most charming blue cloak (it was
a chilly morning) which completely enveloped her. I determined
not to shilly-shally. She loved me--I loved her. I ran forward,
plumped down on my knees behind her, took her head between my
hands dodged round, and kissed her cheek.
"`At last, my darling!' I cried in passionate tones.
"By Jupiter, it was the other girl, though!
"I sprang back in horror. The girl looked at me for a moment.
Then she blushed; then she frowned; then--why, then she began to
laugh consumedly. I was amazed.
"`"At last," you call it,' she gasped.
Pages:
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41