"Now," said she, "since you have given that promise, with less regret I
can say adieu!"
She extended her hand for a parting salute. I took her fingers in mine,
and respectfully kissed them. I saw the tears freshly filling in her
eyes, as she turned away to conceal them.
I was convinced she was acting under constraint, and against her
inclination, else I should not have been allowed to depart. Hers was
not the spirit to fear gossip or scandal. Some other _pressure_ was
upon her.
I was passing out through the hall, my eyes eagerly turning in every
direction. Where was _she_? Was I not to have _even a parting word_!
At that moment a side-door was gently opened. My heart beat wildly as
it turned upon its hinge. Aurore!
I dare not trust myself to speak aloud. It would have been overheard in
the drawing-room. A look, a whisper, a silent pressure of the hand, and
I hurried away; but the return of that pressure, slight and almost
imperceptible as it was, fired my veins with delight; and I walked on
towards the gate with the proud step of a conqueror.