Page:The Europeans (1st edition) Volume 1.djvu/71

 "You know," the young man urged, "that I have always one thing to say."

Gertrude looked at him a moment. "Please don't say it now!"

"We are all alone," he continued, taking off his hat; "all alone in this beautiful Sunday stillness."

Gertrude looked around her, at the breaking buds, the shining distance, the blue sky to which she had referred as a pretext for her irregularities. "That's the reason," she said, "why I don't want you to speak. Do me a favour; go to church."

"May I speak when I come back? " asked Mr. Brand.

"If you are still disposed," she answered.