She
can not mean me any harm. She has brought me flowers again and again on
my birthday, if it is the same. She gave me the little locket I showed
you. Why may not I stop and speak to her?"
"Not now, my darling," he said, putting his hand on her arm. "Let me
find out about her first."
"And how are you going to do that? In a few minutes, perhaps, she goes
away; and when will you see her again? It is many months since Anneli
saw her last; and Anneli sees everything and everybody."
"We will cross the bridge," said he, in a low voice, for he knew not how
near the stranger might be, "and walk on to Park Lane. Anneli must tell
us how far she follows. If she turns aside anywhere I will bid you
good-bye and see where she goes. Do you understand, Natalie?"
She certainly did not understand why he should speak so seriously about
it.
"And I am to be marched like a prisoner? I may not turn my head?"
She began to be amused. He scarcely knew what to say to her. At last he
said, earnestly,
"Natalie, it is of great importance to you that I should see this
lady--that I should try to see her.
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