Page:A Virgin Heart.pdf/127

Rh But suddenly he had a curious vision. He was standing on the platform of Caen station, amusing himself by peeping indiscreetly into the carriages, and what did he see?—Rose and Leonor huddled together, mouth against mouth. The train moved on, and he was left standing there, looking at the red light disappearing in the smoke....

He got up, full of jealousy; he ran, then slowed down, listening for possible words, questioning the silence. Without his knowing exactly why, Rose's laugh, heard through the leaves of the wood, reassured him. He saw Leonor stoop down and rise again holding a little pink ﬂower in his hand.

"Sherardia arvensis," he said, taking the ﬂower. "It has no business to grow here. Its place is in the ﬁeld next door. Arvensis, you see, arvensis. But there are lots of plants that lose their way."

"He knows everything," said Rose. "You see, he knows everything."

Leonor who had understood the allusion, did not answer. He walked away, under the pretense of continuing his botanical researches in the wood.