After supper Michel Voss and the young man--Adrian Urmand by name--lit their cigars and seated themselves on a bench outside the front door.

'Have you never said a word to her ?' said Michel.
'Well;--a word; yes.' 'But you have not asked her--; you know what I mean;--asked her whether she could love you.' 'Well,--yes.

I have said as much as that, but I have never got an answer.

And when I did ask her, she merely left me.

She is not much given to talking.' 'She will not make the worse wife, my friend, because she is not much given to such talking as that.