The Torrents Of Spring
The Torrents Of Spring
The Torrents Of Spring
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to say, which could compare, in importance, with the simple fact of their<br />
presence there, together, alone, so early, so close to each other.<br />
‘You … are not angry with me?’ Sanin articulated at last.<br />
It would have been difficult for Sanin to have said anything more foolish<br />
than these words … he was conscious of it himself… . But, at any<br />
rate, the silence was broken.<br />
‘Angry?’ she answered. ‘What for? No.’<br />
‘And you believe me?’ he went on.<br />
‘In what you wrote?’<br />
‘Yes.’<br />
Gemma’s head sank, and she said nothing. <strong>The</strong> parasol slipped out of<br />
her hands. She hastily caught it before it dropped on the path.<br />
‘Ah, believe me! believe what I wrote to you!’ cried Sanin; all his<br />
timidity suddenly vanished, he spoke with heat; ‘if there is truth on earth<br />
– sacred, absolute truth – it’s that I love, love you passionately, Gemma.’<br />
She flung him a sideway, momentary glance, and again almost<br />
dropped the parasol.<br />
‘Believe me! believe me!’ he repeated. He besought her, held out his<br />
hands to her, and did not dare to touch her. ‘What do you want me to<br />
do … to convince you?’<br />
She glanced at him again.<br />
‘Tell me, Monsieur Dimitri,’ she began; ‘the day before yesterday,<br />
when you came to talk to me, you did not, I imagine, know then … did<br />
not feel … ’<br />
‘I felt it,’ Sanin broke in; ‘but I did not know it. I have loved you from<br />
the very instant I saw you; but I did not realise at once what you had become<br />
to me! And besides, I heard that you were solemnly betrothed… .<br />
As far as your mother’s request is concerned – in the first place, how<br />
could I refuse? – and secondly, I think I carried out her request in such a<br />
way that you could guess… .’<br />
<strong>The</strong>y heard a heavy tread, and a rather stout gentleman with a knapsack<br />
over his shoulder, apparently a foreigner, emerged from behind the<br />
clump, and staring, with the unceremoniousness of a tourist, at the<br />
couple sitting on the garden-seat, gave a loud cough and went on.<br />
‘Your mother,’ Sanin began, as soon as the sound of the heavy footsteps<br />
had ceased, ‘told me your breaking off your engagement would<br />
cause a scandal’ – Gemma frowned a little – that I was myself in part responsible<br />
for unpleasant gossip, and that … consequently … I was, to<br />
some extent, under an obligation to advise you not to break with your<br />
betrothed, Herr Klüber… .’<br />
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