"Of course, but I told myself that my pride wouldn't permit it. In my state of mind I wanted to get as far off as possible and so I came to Europe. I have been here ever since, and I have learned a lot."
"About—about—girls?"
"About life in general, about my stupid self, and well yes, about girls as a class."
"Did you never think of going back after you had learned all these things?"
"Yes, but it would have been of no use. She left that part of the country, and I don't know whether she ever went back. Her mother died, I learned, and she went away. My sister, who used to be a neighbor of hers, removed to California and all I learned was through casual friends. Perhaps if my sister had known how matters stood she would have found out more for me."
"But she never knew?"
"No, we thought, at least N——, the girl, thought it would be so much more romantic to keep our engagement a secret, so no one knew except her mother."
"She must have been a very silly girl," said Anita, with a triumphant smile playing around her lips and with her heart beating rapturously.
"She was the most adorable girl I have ever seen. I can say that," he said with a sudden smile, "because I can't see you and I really don't know how young you may be."
"I shall never be so young as I was once," returned Anita with a little laugh.