"Je n'y comprends rien!" he exclaimed; then his eyes followed for a while the retreating figures of this critical pair.
"You may say what you please," he declared; "it is evident to me that your sister is not indifferent to her clever companion.
It is agreeable to her to be walking there with him.
I can see that from here." And in the excitement of observation Felix rose to his feet.
Gertrude rose also, but she made no attempt to emulate her companion's discovery; she looked rather in another direction.
Felix's words had struck her; but a certain delicacy checked her.
"She is certainly not indifferent to Mr. Brand; she has the highest opinion of him."
"One can see it--one can see it," said Felix, in a tone of amused contemplation, with his head on one side.
Gertrude turned her back to the opposite shore; it was disagreeable to her to look, but she hoped Felix would say something more.
"Ah, they have wandered away into the wood," he added.
Gertrude turned round again. "She is not in love with him," she said; it seemed her duty to say that.
"Then he is in love with her; or if he is not, he ought to be.
She is such a perfect little woman of her kind. She reminds me of a pair of old-fashioned silver sugar-tongs; you know I am very fond of sugar. And she is very nice with Mr. Brand;