“She wanted you an hour ago.”
Cathleen sped away.
Disconcertingly René knew that her father’s whole attention was concentrated upon him, though the lawyer’s little cunning eyes were not looking at him. They both stood still, with the silence between them growing colder and colder. René hotly imagined himself saying:
“Sir, I love your daughter and she loves me. I am poor but able. I have won many prizes at school, and in the Faculty of Economics and Commercial Science in the University of Thrigsby. I am young, sir, but——”
When at last he opened his lips he said:
“We—we’ve been a walk.”
“So I perceive.”
“The woods are very beautiful at this time of year.”
The silence froze.
“Are you staying long?” This came at length in a snappy, cross-examining voice.