Chapter 20

As I climbed swiftly up the vineyard path I caught sight of a light in Acia�s room.� This reassured me a little.

I went up to the house. The door below was fastened. I knocked. A window on the ground floor was cautiously opened, and Gagin�s head appeared.

�Have you found her?� I asked.

�She has come back,� he answered in a whisper. �She is in her own room undressing. Everything is all right.�

�Thank God!� I cried, in an indescribable rush of joy. �Thank God! now everything is right. But you know we must have another talk.�

�Another time,� he replied, softly drawing the casement towards him. �Another time; but now good-bye.�

�Till to-morrow,� I said. �To-morrow everything shall be arranged.�

�Good-bye;� repeated Gagin. The window was closed. I was on the point of knocking at the window. I was on the point of telling Gagin there and then that I wanted to ask him for his sister�s hand. But such a proposal at such a time.� �To-morrow,� I reflected, �to-morrow I shall be happy.��

To-morrow I shall be happy! Happiness has no to-morrow, no yesterday; it thinks not on the past, and dreams not of the future; it has the present—not a day even—a moment.

I don�t remember how I got to Z. It was not my legs that carried me, nor a boat that ferried me across; I felt that I was borne along by great, mighty wings. I passed a bush where a nightingale was singing. I stopped and listened long; I fancied it sang my love and happiness.