He laid his hand on Gertrude’s hair. She interpreted the gesture as a visible sign that his promise had been fulfilled; that this work belonged to her; that he had created it for her, had taken it from her heart, and was returning it to the heart from whence it came.
X
Zierfuss, the music dealer, had sent out invitations to a concert. Daniel did not feel like going. Gertrude asked Eleanore if she would not go with her. Daniel called for them after the concert.
Eleanore told him on the way home that she had received a letter for him that afternoon bearing a London stamp.
“From Benda?” asked Daniel quickly.
“It is Benda’s handwriting,” replied Eleanore. “I was going to bring it to you when Gertrude called for me. Wait out in the front of the house, and I’ll go in and get it.”
“Take dinner with us this evening, Eleanore,” said Gertrude, looking rather uncertainly at Daniel.
“If it is agreeable to Daniel....”
“No nonsense, Eleanore, of course it is agreeable to me,” said Daniel.
A quarter of an hour later Daniel was sitting by the lamp reading Benda’s letter.