Page:The Europeans (1st edition) Volume 1.djvu/224

 He, on his side, gave a little laugh. "You certainly do avoid me—you see!"

"Avoid me, then," said the girl.

He looked at her again; and then, very gently, "No, I will not avoid you," he replied; "but I will leave you, for the present, to yourself. I think you will remember after a while some of the things you have forgotten. I think you will come back to me; I have great faith in that."

This time his voice was very touching; there was a strong reproachful force in what he said, and Gertrude could answer nothing. He turned away and stood there, leaning his elbows on the gate and looking at the beautiful sunset. Gertrude left him and took her way home again; but when she reached the