"We shall overcome everything. We shall overcome the numerous obstacles arising from this terrible subject: that is all that is between us."
"Yes; it is the one and only question in this part of the world."
She stopped, and turned her radiant face full of love to him--of that beautiful and proud love which he had longed to know and to inspire.
"Say rather that it makes everything greater. Our quarrels here are not village quarrels--we are either for or against a country. We are obliged to have courage every day, to make enemies every day, every day to break with old friends who would willingly have remained faithful to us, but who are not faithful to Alsace. No action of our lives is indifferent; there is no action that is not an affirmation. I assure you, Jean, there is nobleness in that."
They stopped to enjoy that delicious word to the full. Their souls were in their eyes, and they looked at each other tremblingly. In low tones, although there were no onlookers other than the pines swayed by the wind, they spoke of the future as of a battle already begun.
"Lucienne will be on my side," said Jean. "I shall entrust my secret to her when occasion occurs. She will help me, and I count on her."
"I count on my father," said Odile; "for he is already well disposed towards you. But take care not to do anything that would annoy him. Do not try to see me at Alsheim. Do not try to hurry on the time."
"That glorious time when you will be mine!"
They smiled at each other for the first time.
"I love you so dearly," continued Jean, "that I shall not ask you for the kiss that you would no doubt give me--I have no right to it. We do not entirely depend on ourselves, Odile. And then it pleases me to show you how sacred you are to me. Tell me at least that I shall take away with me a little of your soul?"
The lips so near his murmured "Yes!" And almost immediately:
"Do you hear down there? Is that the first Easter bell?"
They turned together towards the side where the wood sloped downwards.
"Come," said she: "the bells are going to ring. And if I were not seen up there when they rang, old Rose would speak of it...."
Hardly saying a word, she led him to the base of the rock. There they separated to go back to the Abbey by two different paths.