Three Weeks | Page 7

wore silk socks, and was "beautifully groomed," too, as all
young Englishmen are of his class and age. And how supple his lithe
body seemed as he bent over the oars, while the boat shot out into the
blue water.

The mountains were really very jolly, he thought, and it was not too hot,
and he was glad he had come out, even though he had eaten no
breakfast and was feeling rather cheap still. Yes, very glad.
After he had advanced a few hundred yards he rested on his oars, and
looked up at the hotel. Then wonder came back to him, where was she
to-day--the lady with the eyes? Or had he dreamed it--and was there no
lady at all?
It should not worry him anyway--so he rowed ahead, and ceased to
speculate.
The first thing he did when he came in for lunch was to finish his letter
to Isabella.
"P. S.--Monday," he added. "It is finer to-day, and I have had some
exercise. The view isn't bad now the mist has gone. I shall do some
climbing, I think. Take care of yourself, dear girl. Good-bye.
"Love from
"PAUL."
It was with a feeling of excitement that he entered the restaurant for
déjeuner. Would she be there? How would she seem in daylight?
But the little table where she had sat the night before was unoccupied.
There were the usual cloth and glass and silver, but no preparations for
any specially expected guest upon it. Paul felt annoyed with himself
because his heart sank. Had she gone? Or did she only dine in public?
Perhaps she lunched in the sitting-room beyond the terrace, where he
had seen her eyes the night before.
The food was really very good, and the sun shone, and Paul was young
and hungry, so presently he forgot about the lady and enjoyed his meal.
The appearance of the Bürgenstock across the lake attracted him, as
afterwards he smoked another cigar under the trees. He would hire an

electric launch and go there and explore the paths. If only Pike were
with him--or--Isabella!
This idea he put into execution.
What a thing was a funicular railway. How steep and unpleasant, but
how quaint the tree-tops looked when one was up among them. Yes--
Lucerne was a good deal jollier than Paris. And he roamed about
among the trees, never noticing their beautiful colours. Presently he
paused to rest. He was soothed--even peaceful. If he had Pike he could
really be quite happy, he thought.
What was that rustle among the leaves above him? He looked up, and
started then as violently almost as he had done the night before.
Because there, peeping at him from the tender green of the young
beeches, was the lady in black. She looked down upon him through the
parted boughs, her black hat and long black veil making a sharp
silhouette against the vivid verdure, her whole face in tender shadow
and framed in the misty gauze.
Paul's heart beat violently. He felt a pulse in his throat--for a few
seconds.
He knew he was gazing into her eyes, and he thought he knew they
were green. They looked larger than he had imagined them to be. They
were set so beautifully, too, just a suspicion of rise at the corners. And
their expression was mocking and compelling--and--But she let go the
branches and disappeared from view.
Paul stood still. He was thrilling all over. Should he bound in among
the trees and follow her? Should he call out and ask her to come back?
Should he--? But when he had decided and gained the spot where she
must have stood, he saw it was a junction of three paths, and he was in
perfect ignorance which one she had taken. He rushed down the first of
them, but it twisted and turned, and when he had gone far enough to see
ahead--there was no one in sight. So he retraced his steps and tried the
second. This, too, ended in disappointment. And the third led to an
opening where he could see the descending funiculaire, and just as it

sank out of view he caught sight of a black dress, almost hidden by a
standing man's figure, whom he recognised as the elderly silver-haired
servant.
Paul had learnt a number of swear-words at Eton and Oxford. And he
let the trees hear most of them then.
He could not get down himself until the train returned, and by that time
where would she be? To go by the paths would take an eternity. This
time circumstance had fairly done him.
Presently he sauntered back to the little hotel whose terrace commands
the lake far below, and eagerly watching the craft upon it, he thought he
caught sight of