And there
was the added benefit that any third person who might chance to look
from a window, or from a passing carriage, would not think that he was
receiving a snub, because he did not intend to lift his hat, but,
timing the gesture properly, would in fact actually rub his forehead.
These were the hasty plans which occupied his thoughts until he was
within about fifty feet of her--when he ceased to have either plans or
thoughts, he had kept his eyes from looking full at her until then,
and as he saw her, thus close at hand, and coming nearer, a regret
that was dumfounding took possession of him. For the first time he
had the sense of having lost something of overwhelming importance.
Lucy did not keep to the right, but came straight to meet him,
smiling, and with her hand offered to him.
"Why--you--" he stammered, as he took it. "Haven't you--" What he
meant to say was, "Haven't you heard?"
"Haven't I what?" she asked; and he saw that Eugene had not yet told
her.
"Nothing!" he gasped. "May I--may I turn and walk with you a little
way?"
"Yes, indeed!" she said cordially.
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