Fires of St. John - LightNovelsOnl.com
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"In a year, in a year, when the nightingale comes----"
Marie.
[_Intensely_.] When the nightingale comes?
Gertrude.
You will be Pastor's wife. [_Laughs_.]
[Marie, _with one braid in her hand, bending back, laughing loudly and forced_.]
Gertrude.
[_In pain_.] Oh, you are pulling my hair----
Marie.
Any one as happy as you should be able to bear a little pain. There! I will braid it into your hair--for you are happy, are you not? Very happy?
Gertrude.
Yes! I am--that is--I would like to be--but George--he is so sad.
Marie.
_George_?
Gertrude.
Yes!
Marie.
[_Lurkingly_.] Perhaps you were right! Perhaps he _does_ love another!
Gertrude.
[_Softly groaning_.] Oh, why did you say that?
Marie.
Because---- No, no--how could he? That was wicked in me, wasn't it? How could he think of another, when he looks at you?
Gertrude.
No, no, Marie, you are right! I told him so myself!
Marie.
[_Slowly and marked_.] And what did he say?
Gertrude.
He?--He said nothing! And then--he cried----
Marie.
[_Triumphantly_.] He cried? George cried? Have you ever seen him do that before?
Gertrude.
No, never!
Marie.
[_To herself_.] He cried----
Gertrude.
And then he said: "What if we should be parted, after all?"
Marie.
If who should be parted--you and he?
Gertrude.
Yes--if he should die----
Marie.
If he--oh, that is what he meant! Oh, well, he just wanted to say something. [_With forced lightness_.]
Gertrude.
Of course he did. But what about the other woman? Oh, I didn't let him see that I cared--and for the time I didn't care, really; but now, when I think of it! My G.o.d!--if it were really so! If I only knew!!!!!!!
Marie.
Of course, he would not tell you!
Gertrude.
Do you think he would tell any one else?
Marie.
Yes, sooner than tell you.
