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As if in a painful dream, she waited suspended, unresolved

She did not know, she could not understand Only she felt that

all the threads of her fate were being held taut, in suspense

She only wept so blindly: "I am so fond of him, I am so fond of him"

He caave no sign He did not even kiss her He behaved as if he

were an affable, usual acquaintance This was superficial, but

what did it hide? She waited for him, she wanted him to make

son

So the whole of the day they wavered and avoided contact,

until evening Then, laughing, saying he would be back in six

months' time and would tell them all about it, he shook hands

with her mother and took his leave

Ursula accoht indy,

the yew trees seethed and hissed and vibrated The wind see the chimneys and the church-tower It was

dark

The wind blew Ursula's face, and her clothes cleaved to her

liid wind, instinct with

coour of life And she seeent night she could not

find him

"Where are you?" she asked

"Here," ca, she touched hi drenched

them