The Torrents Of Spring

now!’ he felt. ‘Why, I am one of the family now!’ And he actually stood
behind the counter, and actually kept shop, that is, sold two little girls,
who came in, a pound of sweets, giving them fully two pounds, and only
taking half the price from them.
At dinner he received an official position, as betrothed, beside Gemma.
Frau Lenore pursued her practical investigations. Emil kept laughing
and urging Sanin to take him with him to Russia. It was decided that
Sanin should set off in a fortnight. Only Pantaleone showed a somewhat
sullen face, so much so that Frau Lenore reproached him. ‘And he was
his second!’ Pantaleone gave her a glance from under his brows.
Gemma was silent almost all the time, but her face had never been
lovelier or brighter. After dinner she called Sanin out a minute into the
garden, and stopping beside the very garden-seat where she had been
sorting the cherries two days before, she said to him. ‘Dimitri, don’t be
angry with me; but I must remind you once more that you are not to consider
yourself bound … ’
He did not let her go on… .
Gemma turned away her face. ‘And as for what mamma spoke of, do
you remember, the difference of our religion – see here!… ’
She snatched the garnet cross that hung round her neck on a thin cord,
gave it a violent tug, snapped the cord, and handed him the cross.
‘If I am yours, your faith is my faith!’ Sanin’s eyes were still wet when
he went back with Gemma into the house.
By the evening everything went on in its accustomed way. They even
played a game of tresette.
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