Page:Zodiac stories by Blanche Mary Channing.pdf/197

180 tremble; her cheeks turned red; she put her hands up to her face, and would have run away, if a sudden intelligence had not come to the boy.

He caught her two hands and pulled them down from her eyes.

"Look at me!" he commanded; and though he spoke in French she knew what he meant. She looked at him, and the smile on his face passed to her's. She held up the wild flowers with a questioning gesture; he took them with a gesture of thanks. They were friends!

Long after the pink hat had disappeared among the trees, Bertrand gazed down the empty road. He held the little bouquet tight, and now and then stroked one of the flowers gently.

"Will Monsieur go further?" asked Gervase at last. He had been waiting for orders, and was tired of standing in the sun.

Bertrand roused himself.