Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/128

104 from the capital, in a fertile and barbarous island, she replied simply:

"That suits me perfectly, Monsieur Henry."

Notwithstanding their intimacy,she seldom omitted this respectful prefix before the young man's name.

Kehlmark, not having yet sounded the depth of the absolute affection which she devoted to him, had imagined that she would take advantage of the liberality of the deceased to return to her native country of Campine, and seek there a suitable husband.

"What do you mean?" he asked her, intimidated by the air of grieved surprise, which had overcast the young woman's countenance.

"With your permission, Monsieur Henry, I will follow you wherever you think it well to settle, unless my presence has become troublesome to you."

And reproachful tears fluttered on her trembling eye-lashes, although she made an effort to smile at him as usual.

"Forgive me, Blandine," stammered the awkward young man. "You know very well that no company, no presence, could be more welcome to me than yours. But