"
"Tell me about it," she said, and her look shook him to the depths of
his soul.
He stood there, trembling; he could feel the blood pouring in a warm
flood about his throat and neck. "Tell me," she said again.
"You--you are more beautiful than anyone I have ever seen," he panted.
"You are not used to women, Samuel!"
"No," said he. "I'm just a country boy."
She stood waiting for him to continue. "The girls there"--he
whispered--"they are pretty--but you--you---"
And then suddenly the words came to him. "You are like a princess!" he
cried.
"Ah, if you ever find your tongue!" she said with a smile; and then
after a pause she added, "You don't know how different you are,
Samuel."
"Different?" he echoed.
"Yes. You are so fresh--so young. You would do anything for me,
wouldn't you?"
"Yes," he said.
"You'd risk your life for me, as you did for Bertie?"
And Samuel answered her with fervor that left no room for doubt.
"I wish there was a chance," she laughed. "But there's only this dull
every-day round!"
There was a pause; the boy dropped his eyes and stood trembling.
"Where are you going with the roses?" she asked.
"I'm to take them to the housekeeper."
"Let me have one."
She took one from the bunch, and he stood watching while she pinned it
to her dress. "You may bring me some, now and then," she said with one
of her marvelous smiles.
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