alked of many things. Felix spoke at last, in the
course of talk, of his going away; it was the first time he had alluded
to it.

"You are going away?" said Gertrude, looking at him.

"Some day--when the leaves begin to fall. You know I can't stay
forever."

Gertrude transferred her eyes to the outer prospect, and then, after a
pause, she said, "I shall never see you again."

"Why not?" asked Felix. "We shall probably both survive my departure."

But Gertrude only repeated, "I shall never see you again. I shall never
hear of you," she went on. "I shall know nothing about you. I knew
nothing about you before, and it will be the same again."

"I knew nothing about you then, unfortunately," said Felix. "But now I
shall write to you."

"Don't write to me. I shall not answer you," Gertrude declared.

"I should of course burn your letters," said Felix.

Gertrude looked at him again. "Burn my letters? You sometimes say
strange things."

"They are not strange in themselves," the young man answered. "They are
only strange as said to you. You will come to Europe."

"With whom shall I come?" She asked this question simply; she was very
much in earnest. Felix was interested in her earnestness; for some
moments he hesitated. "You can't tell me that," she pursued. "You can't
say that I shall go with my father and my sister; you don't believe
that."

"I shall keep your letters," said Felix, presently, for all answer.

"I never write. I don't know how to write." Gertrude, for some time,
said nothing more; and her companion, as he looked at her, wished it had
not been "disloyal" to make love to the daughter of an old gentleman who
had offered one hospitality. The afternoon waned; the shadows stretched
themselves; and the light grew deeper in the western sky. Two persons
appeared on the opposite side of the lake, coming from the house and
crossing the meadow. "It is Charlotte and Mr. Brand," said Gertrude.
"They are coming over here." But Charlotte and Mr. Brand only came down
to the edge of the water, and stood there, looking across; they made no
motion to enter the boat that Felix had left at the mooring-place. Felix
waved his hat to them; it was too far to call. They made no visible
response, and they presently turned away and walked along the shore.

"Mr. Brand is not demonstrative," said Felix. "He is never demonstrative
to me. He sits silent, with his chin in his hand, looking at me.
Sometimes he looks away. Your f