226 THE CHANGE 



helped with the sowing and the reaping. 

 One day in summer Louise and I were 

 walking over the Seven Fields, and by a 

 stile I put my arm round her, and she 

 said, * No, Julien, not yet/ but said it so 

 softly and timidly that I knew she loved 

 me. And I held her, the little thing that 

 she was, in my arms, just to feel her making 

 a small struggle, and to watch her shy 

 eyes and tinted cheeks. But she would 

 not let me kiss her, so I pretended to say 

 farewell to her, but she pressed my hand 

 and told me to stay. And when I asked 

 her if she loved me, she would not answer. 



" * Would you break my heart, Louise ? ' 

 I said. * You know I love you/ 



*' ' No, Julien,' she answered very softly, 

 * but I do not want you to break your 

 own.' 



" * What do you mean, Louise ? ' 



" But she would not say immediately, 

 and when the time came for us to go back 

 to the cottage, she kissed me nervously on 



