He had come to speak to her in order to tell her that he was going away, and yet, at the end of five minutes, he had asked leave to come and see her.

This sudden gyration of mind was grotesque, and Bernard knew it; but, nevertheless, he had an immense expectation that, if he should give her time, she would manifest some curiosity as to his own situation.

He tried to give her time; he held his tongue; but she continued to say nothing.

They passed along a sort of winding lane, where two or three fishermen's cottages, with old brown nets suspended on the walls and drying in the sun, stood open to the road, on the other side of which was a patch of salt-looking grass, browsed by a donkey that was not fastidious.
"It 's so long since we parted, and we have so much to say to each other!" Bernard exclaimed at last, and he accompanied this declaration with a laugh much more spontaneous than the one he had given a few moments before.
It might have gratified him, however, to observe that his companion appeared to see no ground for joking in the idea that they should have a good deal to say to each other.
"Yes, it 's a long time since we spent those pleasant weeks at Baden," she rejoined.

"Have you been there again ?" This was a question, and though it was a very simple one, Bernard was charmed with it.
"I would n't go back for the world!" he said.