The man, whose duty as host had
hitherto occupied all his attention, looked for the woman, but she was
gone.
"A friend strolled by, the same that had put the question to him about
love and vanity.
"'Have you quarrelled?' asked the friend.
"'No,' replied the man.
"'I fancied you had,' said the other. 'I met her just now walking with
her husband, of all men in the world, and making herself quite agreeable
to him.'
"The friend strolled on, and the man sat down on a fallen tree, and
lighted a cigar. He smoked and thought, and the cigar burnt out, but he
still sat thinking.
"After a while he heard a faint rustling of the branches behind him, and
peering between the interlacing leaves that hid him, saw the crouching
figure of the woman creeping through the wood.
"His lips were parted to call her name, when she turned her listening
head in his direction, and his eyes fell full upon her face. Something
about it, he could not have told what, struck him dumb, and the woman
crept on.
"Gradually the nebulous thoughts floating through his brain began to
solidify into a tangible idea, and the man unconsciously started forward.
After walking a few steps he broke into a run, for the idea had grown
clearer. It continued to grow still clearer and clearer, and the man ran
faster and faster, until at last he found himself racing madly towards
the lock.
Pages:
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259