“I’ve been hoping to see you for a long time. We hardly got acquainted in that little chat we had a month ago.”
“You are sure you wish to be acquainted?”
“Oh, very.”
“Pourquoi?”
“Why? That’s difficult to put into words, isn’t it? But I know about you—and you must know about me. We just ought to be acquainted better.”
“Eet is possible. You will know me. Ver’ well. I also would know you.”
“Suppose we have déjeuner together, then. Have you finished your shopping?”
“Ever’thing—all is completed.”
Maude turned and walked down the stairs with Andree. They did not speak until they had traversed the crowded aisles and reached the street. Each was thinking about the other, but with this difference: Maude was wondering what Andree thought about her, while Andree was not concerned in the least with Maude’s opinion of herself. She thought of Maude only as some one in whom Ken was more interested than she liked, and wondered what this American girl would say to her.... Maude was impressed, not exactly in spite of herself, with Andree’s appearance and manner. The girl was so slender, so dainty, so appealing, so childlike and fragile! One could not help wanting to defend her and befriend her.... But it was not befriending her to wish to take away the man she loved and who loved her, which was the thing that could not but rest in the back of Maude’s mind. She had a feeling that Andree knew that desire was in her mind....
“Let us go to the Petrograd—it is only a few steps. I am living there now. A great many of us American girls live there.”