Nothing happened as we passed down the stairs and out into the street. I could have taken my oath of that. And, devoted as always, he walked with Madge across to the terminus, leaving Jennie to me. But I felt it coming....
It came as he took the tickets at the guichet; and it was not of his doing, but of hers. I had silver in my hand, ready to repay him, and there was no reason why she also should have pressed so close to him. Again there was the little flurry about the flower at her throat; her bent nape was towards me; the thing was movingly clumsily done.
But it was done for all that. A note passed from her hand to his, and the fingers that passed it were held for a moment.
Don't tell me that that note had not been in readiness probably since the evening before. Don't tell me that it had not lain under her pillow for a whole night before being transferred to that tenderer post-bag that was sealed with the yellow flower. Don't tell me that it had not been even more sweetly sealed. For I saw her face when she turned again. I saw its struggle of soft emotion and the will to be calm. With a quick little impulse that I did not understand she flew to her mother's arm.
"There are three seats there if we're quick," she said in a broken little voice....
Only to see one another--only to speak to one another--and to pass a secret note at the first opportunity----
"You know that we can't quarrel, Derry," I said.
"In that case----" he said quietly, but did not finish.
"We can't quarrel for the reason there's always been--that we aren't in the same ring and can't possibly get there."
"I wish----" he began, but once more suddenly stopped.
From the obscurity of the next table where the four young Frenchmen sat another soft unaccompanied song broke out.
"En mon coeur, tendre réliquaire, J'avais gardé ton souvenir; Par lui le long de mon calvaire En espérant, j'ai pu souffrir!"
"Hush!" his voice came huskily from the dusk by my side.
"J'ai vécu des heures cruelles Loin de toi, que j'aimais toujours; Les revoici, pour moi plus belles Puisqu'elles sonnent ton rétour."
The song was finished without further interruption from him.
"Ne parlons plus de nos alarmes, Effaçons l'horrible passé; Reviens, je veux sécher tes larmes Et revivre pour t'adorer: