Page:The Europeans (1st edition) Volume 1.djvu/219

 said Gertrude, with a short laugh. "I know that very well."

He made no rejoinder. He simply walked beside her, slowly, as they were obliged to walk over the soft grass. Presently they came to another gate, which was closed. Mr. Brand laid his hand upon it, but he made no movement to open it; he stood and looked at his companion. "You are very much interested—very much absorbed," he said.

Gertrude glanced at him; she saw that he was pale and that he looked excited. She had never seen Mr. Brand excited before, and she felt that the spectacle, if fully carried out, would be impressive, almost painful.

"Absorbed in what?" she asked. Then she