Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/69

Rh gambols and careless clamouring. The hurlyburly even startled a couple of gulls in the trees on the Dike, and Kehlmark, walking up and down with Claudie on the sea-front of the terrace, watched the poor birds frantically revolving for some time, with cries of distress, around the lamp of the lighthouse, and felt for them a sentiment of poetic commiseration, the existence of which his companion did not for a moment suspect. What correlation did he imagine existed between their savage wildness and his own secret anguish. But he quickly roused himself to rattle out a number of empty nothings to the Burgomaster's daughter.

However, the brotherhood of the Guild called for their little bugler, and as he lingered long in the apartments, before the pictures, they went off there to get him, and dragged him away, do what he would, to the extremity of the park. No doubt Henry in his own mind exaggerated their teasing humour towards the young Govaertz, for, as he walked with Claudie, he seemed strangely drawn in the direction of their noisy groups. His approach quietened them and cut short the "ragging" which they