Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/191

Rh both sides agreed to marry the children, who were pleased with each other at first sight.

"From the arrival of Wanna, Gerard became quite sad on account of the attention which the little Stephen bestowed on his nice cousin. Stephen was a spoiled child, who only loved Gerard as he might have loved a docile and faithful dog, the partner of his play, the humourer of all his whims. Gerard looked on Wanna with sombre, almost murderous eyes; but the fair lass did but laugh at the savage, and to annoy him, being of sportive and crafty humour, she would often carry off Stephen, or run away and hide herself so that he might come and rejoin her far from the jealous youth.

"Gerard, at the end of his patience, implored his friend not to marry. Stephen laughed in his face. "Art thou crazy, dearest fellow? Its nature's law. Look at the beasts of our farm; look at the wild animals in the woods!"

"Oh pity! I know not what I feel, but I want thee for myself alone, unshared by any other. Why imitate the animals, and do like others? Are we not sufficient to one another? Dost thou expect ever to be loved