"
She ceased, and for some moments Gilbert sat silent beside her, but not
as if he had nothing to say. He seemed rather to be checking himself
lest he should say too much.
"So you were at Vezelay," he said at last; "yet I sought your face
everywhere, and I could not see you."
"How did you know?" asked Beatrix.
"The Queen had written to me," he answered; "so I came back from Rome."
"I understand," said the young girl, quietly.
"What is it that you understand?"
"I understand why she has prevented me from seeing you, when you have
been near me for almost a year."
She checked a little sigh, and then looked out at the water again.
"I wish I did," Gilbert answered, with a short laugh.
Beatrix laughed too, but in a different tone.
"How dull you are!" she cried. Gilbert looked at her quickly, for no
man likes to be told that he is dull, by any woman, old or young.
"Am I? It seems to me that you do not put things very clearly."
Beatrix was evidently not persuaded that he was in earnest, for she
looked at him long and gravely.
"We have not met for so long," she said, "that I am not quite sure of
you."
She threw her head back and scrutinized his face with half-closed lids;
and about her lips there was an attempt to smile, that came and went
fitfully.
"Besides," she added, as she turned away at last, "you could not
possibly be so simple as that."
"By 'simple,' do you mean foolish, or do you mean plain?"
"Neither," she answered without looking at him.
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