How late you come to tea with me!"
"But I--You didn't know."
"I waited tea for you," she said, and turning to a calendar upon a
wooden wheel, she rolled it back a month.
She made him sit, she made him drink and eat. He filled the room with
his gaiety. He had no reasons upon his tongue, and no excuses; she no
reproaches, no farewell.
A glance round the room had shown her that there were no signs of her
packing; her heavy kitbag was at the station, her suitcase packed and in
the cupboard. She put her gravest news away till later.
"You came by the new train--that has arrived at last in Charleville?"
"Yes, and I go up to Revins to-night."
She paused at that. "But how?"
"I don't know," he answered, smiling at her.
Her eyes sparkled. "Could I?" (She had that morning delivered the car to
its new driver.) "Of course. I could! I will, I will, I'll manage! You
counted on me to drive you to Revins?"
"Will it be difficult to manage?"
"No--o--But I must get the car out before dark or there will be no
excuse--" She pushed back her chair and went to the window. The sun was
sinking over the mountains and the scenery in the western sky was
reflected in the fiery pools between the cobbles in the street.
"I must go soon and get it. But how--"
She paused and thought. "How do you come down to-morrow?"
"I don't.
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