Sidonie, with a sad smile, replied: “Do not fear, I am not a tattler.” “You promise?” “I promise, Bruno.” “Well, while Catherine was trying to extricate her hook from a stump the overhanging branch to which she was clinging gave way. She slipped and fell into the stream. The water was deep at that place and the current strong. Realizing her danger, I plunged in after her.” “How foolish!” “Just as I jumped in Catherine rose to the surface, and I seized her dress. We were instantly whirled among the rocks, but I protected her as well as I could, and by grasping the rocks kept our heads above water as we rushed down stream. In the mad race of the current we were borne along until an enormous rock in the middle of the stream offered me one chance of escape. With great difficulty I managed to climb up on the rock with my burden. Catherine’s face was as white as death. In this wood where the stream had carried us I could see on the left an open space, and by picking my way from the big rock to smaller ones that at stepping distances reached to the bank, I was soon able to place her on the cool grass. Presently she revived. Her lids fluttered and then opened, and for the first time I was thrilled by her incomparable beauty.” Sidonie trembled, but she asked him to continue. “And then, because without my assistance she probably would have drowned, I began to feel very near to her. However, I did not really love her _then_, but she appealed to me. We were drenched, of course, and the heat of the sun was not sufficient to dry our clothing; but we were obliged to wait there until Catherine felt a little stronger. Finally, she rose, looked at me for several seconds, and then silently put her two arms around my neck, and then----” Bruno abruptly paused, showing himself to be ill at ease. Just then a little leaf falling, irresolutely, from a branch, at last reached the ground. Sidonie’s eyes followed its course. A question came to her lips, but she dared not ask it. At the same time Bruno was wondering if he had not said too much. He did not wish to compromise Catherine; but confession is good for the soul, and he could not resist the impulse to give utterance to his pent-up feelings. “Well, she kissed me twice, and then I knew----” Again he paused. But an instant afterward he said: “She went away, leaving me all the fish.” “She was always a little bold, I think,” observed Sidonie, wiping her eyes. “No, do not say that. Would you not have done the same had I saved your life?” “Yes,” admitted poor Sidonie to herself. “But,” pursued Bruno, “it would have been far better for me had she simply thanked me.” “You realize it, Bruno?” “Yes, for from that time I have been wretched.” “But she is married.” “I know it, my good Sidonie. But still I love her--I love her! But I am only a peasant and----” “And what does that matter?” “Oh, I do not know how to address her in language worthy of her or of my love. I can only stupidly say, I love her.”