The Awakening and Selected Short Stories - Page 44/161

She wondered why Robert had gone away and left her. It did not occur to

her to think he might have grown tired of being with her the livelong

day. She was not tired, and she felt that he was not. She regretted that

he had gone. It was so much more natural to have him stay when he was

not absolutely required to leave her.

As Edna waited for her husband she sang low a little song that Robert

had sung as they crossed the bay. It began with "Ah! Si tu savais," and

every verse ended with "si tu savais."

Robert's voice was not pretentious. It was musical and true. The voice,

the notes, the whole refrain haunted her memory.