"
Pause. She was already reaching for her book.
"I am sorry my father is not in," she said. "But I will tell him you
were here."
I made no answer to this. I stepped forward, took her hand once more,
and said:
_"Farvel,_ Edwarda."
_"Farvel,"_ she answered.
I opened the door as if to go. Already she was sitting with the book in
her hand, reading--actually reading and turning the page. Nothing
affected, not the least in the world affected by my saying good-bye.
I coughed.
She turned and said in surprise:
"Oh, are you not gone? I thought you were."
Heaven alone knows, but it struck me that her surprise was too great;
that she was not careful, that she overdid it. And it came into my head
that perhaps she had known all the time that I was standing behind her.
"I am going now," I said.
Then she rose and came over to me.
"I should like to have something to remember you by when you go," she
said. "I thought of asking you for something, but perhaps it is too
much. Will you give me Asop?"
I did not hesitate. I answered "Yes."
"Then, perhaps, you would come and bring him to-morrow," she said.
I went.
I looked up at the window. No one there.
It was all over now...
* * * * *
The last night in the hut.
Pages:
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157