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Afterwards, when the train was at the station, and Chaplot and Zilda had put his bags and his wraps beside him on a cushioned seat, Gilby turned and with great politeness accosted two fine ladies who were travelling in the same carriage and with whom he had a slight acquaintance.
His attitude was as natural as he could make it, such an attitude as a proud man might assume when pain is chaining him in an awkward position, but Zilda saw that he was injured. Her heart gave a great bound of pleasure. Ah! her bird was wounded in the wing; she had him now, for a time at least. 'You! Mam'selle Zilda, he said in surprise; 'how came you here?
The resemblance struck her; she would cry aloud to the men 'Voici Monsieur Geelby, le poulet qui a peur de descendre! The fact that at the thought of mimicking Gilby Zilda was roused to an unwarranted glow of excitement showed, had any one been wise enough to see it, that she felt some inward cause of pleasurable excitement at the mention of his name.
'I will give you a watch, Zilda, he said, 'a gold watch; you will like that. 'No, monsieur. Zilda's face was flushed and her head was high in the air. 'I will give you a ring; you would like that a golden ring. 'No, monsieur; I would not like it at all. Gilby retired from the discussion that day feeling some offence and a good deal of consternation.
Zilda learned it all, and learned also to admire and love the author of such wisdom. It was not his fault; it was not hers. It was the result of his gorgeous watch-chain and his fine clothes and his worldly knowledge, and also of the fact that because of his strict notions and conceited pride it never occurred to him to be gallant or to make love to her.
She was very strong, but less active in those days, as girls are often less active than women. When Zilda had leisure she used to stand outside the hotel and watch the men on the platform. She was always calm and dignified, a little stupid perhaps. She did not attract a great deal of attention from them. They were all French at St.
Zilda did not see the beauty of the river bank either; she regarded nothing until she came to a place where a foot-track was beaten down the side of the embankment, as if apparently to entice walkers to stray across a bit of the meadow and so cut off a large curve of the line. At this point Zilda heard a loud chirpy voice calling,'Hi! hi! who's there? Is any one there?
The woman cried loudly for help and struck angrily around her. The young girl, however, silently defended herself. "Don't be so prudish, Zilda," said one of the men. "You make as much noise as if we were going to hang the little one." The speaker, as he said this, threw his arms around the slim waist of the young girl and tried to draw her to him.
The way of single blessedness is not chosen by Zilda Chaplot because of any fiction of loyalty to a quondam lover. Her mind is such that she could not have invented obligations for herself, because she has not the inventive faculty.
Zilda Chaplot was formed for pleasure, yet there is no tendency latent in her which could have made her a voluptuary. There are some natures which have so nice a proportion of faculties that they are a law of moderation to themselves. They take such keen delight in small pleasures that to them a little is enough.
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