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He paused again, beating about the question he felt he must put. It was to meet him here that you came? She stared, and then burst into a laugh. Meet himmy husband? Here? At this season hes always at Cowes or Baden. He sent some one? Yes. With a letter? She shook her head. No; just a message. He never writes. I dont think Ive had more than one letter from him. The allusion brought the colour to her cheek, and it reflected itself in Archers vivid blush. Why does he never write? Why should he? What does one have secretaries for? The young mans blush deepened. She had pronounced the word as if it had no more significance than any other in her vocabulary. For a moment it was on the tip of his tongue to ask: Did he send his secretary, then? But the remembrance of Count Olenskis only letter to his wife was too present to him. He paused again, and then took another plunge. And the person? The emissary? The emissary, Madame Olenska rejoined, still smiling, might, for all I care, have left already; but he has insisted on waiting till this evening . . . in case . . . on the chance . . . And you came out here to think the chance over? I came out to get a breath of air. The hotels too stifling. Im taking the afternoon train back to Portsmouth. They sat silent, not looking at each other, but straight ahead at the people passing along the path. Finally she turned her eyes again to his face and said: Youre not changed. He felt like answering: I was, till I saw you again; but instead he stood up abruptly and glanced about him at the untidy sweltering park. This is horrible. Why shouldnt we go out a little on the bay? Theres a breeze, and it will be cooler. We might take the steamboat down to Point Arley. She glanced up at him hesitatingly and he went on: On a Monday morning there wont be anybody on the boat. My train doesnt leave till evening: Im going back to New York. Why shouldnt we? he insisted, looking down at her; and suddenly he broke out: Havent we done all we could? Ohshe murmured again. She stood up and reopened her sunshade, glancing about her as if to take counsel of the scene, and assure herself of the impossibility of remaining in it. Then her eyes returned to his face. You mustnt say things like that to me, she said. Ill say anything you like; or nothing. I wont open my mouth unless you tell me to. What harm can it do to anybody? All I want is to listen to you, he stammered. She drew out a little gold-faced watch on an enamelled chain. Oh, dont calculate, he broke out; give me the day! I want to get you away from that man. At what time was he coming? Her colour rose again. At eleven. |
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