“And your business? Your pressing business?” said Adelina, still smiling.
“My business?” said Paul gravely. “The Pelhams are our oldest friends.”
“And dearest?”
“And dearest, Adelina,” he said, regarding her with grave, kind eyes. Then after a slight hesitation, “Is her—is the young man with her?”
Adelina’s face was full of pity. “Yes, Paul, he is here.”
“I want to see him too,” he said.
“I’m afraid—Paul—you are too late,” she said, once more leaning down toward him, with a rush of warm emotion in her eyes.
He was too simply honest to pretend ignorance of her meaning. To his immense surprise her words came like a heavy blow to him. He held himself rigidly quiet for a moment or two.
“Too late!” he muttered, looking far across the valley. “I don’t know. I’m not sure—of myself. I wish I were sure. I don’t know. But,” here he straightened his shoulders, “I will know today. She was such a child, Peggy!”
Adelina sat very still on her horse, regarding him intently.