His throat was moving convulsively, and he put his hand up to his face with a helpless gesture and pulled his mustache.
“I've wanted to say—um, ah—to congratulate you...”
He cleared his throat, and suddenly she saw tears in his eyes.
“Oh! thank you!” she said impulsively, coming up to him and putting her hand on his arm. “Thank you so very much!” and then she could say no more.
He moved his arm away, and his eyes passed her again, out of the distant horizon. Then he said very rapidly, as though he were reciting a speech that he had learnt, “I wanted to congratulate you on your engagement. I hope you 'll be very happy. I'm sure you will. I'm afraid I 'm a little late in my good wishes. I'm afraid I'm a little late. Yes. Good morning!”
Then, before she could say any more, he had moved away and gone down the path.
As she watched his black gown waving a little behind him she knew that her vague fears of the night before had taken definite form.