René laughed and said, "I am not left much choice," whereupon Schmidt and Margaret went down to the shore, and soon their boat lay quiet far out on the river.
"They are talking," said the young lover. "I wonder what about."
In fact they had not exchanged even the small current coin of conventional talk; both were silent until Schmidt laid down his oars, and the boat silently drifted upward with the tide. It was the woman who spoke first.
"Ah, what a true friend thou hast been!"
"Yes, I have that way a talent. Why did you bring me out here to flatter me?"
"I did think it was thou proposed it; but I do wish to talk with thee. My mother is not well pleased because the other mother is ill pleased. I do want every one I love to feel that all is well with René and me, and that the love I give is good for him."
"It is well for you and for him, my child, and as for that grim fortress of a woman, she will live to be jealous of your mother and of René. An east wind of a woman. She will come at last to love you, Pearl."
"Ah, dost thou really think so?"
"Yes."
"And thou art pleased. We thought thou wert grave of late and less—less gay."