Over there was Austria and beyond, the Orient, a new world to me.
"If I could see them together!" I mused aloud.
The squirrel cocked his head to one side as if to ask: "Austria and
Turkey?"
"No," said I, looking around for another stick; "Phyllis and Gretchen.
If I could see them together, you know, I could tell positively then
which I love. As it is, I'm in doubt. Do you understand?"
The squirrel ran out to the end of the limb and sat down. It was an
act of deliberation.
"Well, why don't you answer?"
I was startled to my feet by the laughter which followed my question.
A few yards behind me stood Gretchen.
"Can't you find a better confidant?" she asked,
"Yes, but she will not be my confidant," said I. I wondered how much
she had heard of the one-sided dialogue. "Will you answer the question
I just put to that squirrel of yours?"
"And what was the question?" with innocence not feigned.
"Perhaps it was, Why should Gretchen not revoke the promise to which
she holds me?"
"You should know, Herr," said Gretchen, gently.
"But I do not. I only know that a man is human and that a beautiful
woman was made to be loved.
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