Paulwasnotsorrywhenthetimecametotakeleaveofhisfriend；
butonceagainintheclearmoonlightandfresh，balmyairoftheAllee，heforgottheunpleasantnessoftheinterview。HefoundhimselfthinkingonlyofhisridewithYerba。Well!hehadtoldherthathelovedher。Sheknewitnow，andalthoughshehadforbiddenhimtospeakfurther，shehadnotwhollyrejectedit。Itmustbehermorbidconsciousnessofthemysteryofherbirththatwithheldareturnofheraffections，——somehalf-knowledge，perhaps，thatshewouldnotdivulge，yetthatkeptherundulysensitiveofacceptinghislove。Hewassatisfiedtherewasnoentanglement；
herheartwasvirgin。HeevendaredtohopethatshehadALWAYS
caredforhim。ItwasforHIMtoremoveallobstacles——toprevailuponhertoleavethisplaceandreturntoAmericawithhimasherhusband，theguardianofhergoodname，andthecustodianofhersecret。AttimesthestrainsofadreamyGermanwaltz，playedinthedistance，broughtbacktohimthebriefmomentthathisarmhadencircledherwaistbythecrumblingwall，andhispulsesgrewlanguid，onlytoleapfirmerthenextmomentwithmoredesperateresolve。Hewouldwinher，comewhatmay!Hecouldneverhavebeeninearnestbefore:heloathedandhatedhimselfforhispreviouspassiveacquiescencetoherfate。Hehadbeenaweaktoolofthecolonel\'sfromthefirst:hewasevennowhandicappedbyapreposterouspromisehehadgivenhim!Yes，shewasrighttohesitate——toquestionhisabilitytomakeherhappy!Hehadfoundherhere，surroundedbystupidityandcupidity——togiveitnoothername——sopatentthatshewasthecommongossip，andhadofferednothingbutaboyishdeclaration!Ashestrodeintothehotelthatnightitwaswellthathedidnotmeettheunfortunatecolonelonthestaircase!
Itwasverylate，althoughtherewasstillvisiblealightinYerba\'ssalon，shiningonherbalcony，whichextendedbeforeandincludedhisownwindow。Fromtimetotimehecouldhearthemurmurofvoices。