She raised her lovely eyes that were to conquer many a heart later on, and the lips quivered in entreaty like an opening rose in the breeze.
"Nay—I am here," he said. "And I love you. I want you."
She looked as if she was studying. A little crease came between her eyes, but it seemed to him it made her prettier than before.
"But why must I come? Why must I stay?"
How could he make her understand?
"And there are some other girls—Faith and the big one. I do not like her."
"But you will. I like her very much."
"Then you shall not like me." She struggled to free herself.
"Thou art a briery little Rose," and he smiled into her eyes and kissed her. "I shall hold thee here until thou dost repent and want to stay with me. Faith is not as sweet as thou and Rachel is too old for caresses. Then I am not sure they are proper."
"When I get as old as Rachel—how old is that? shalt thou cease to care whether I come or not?"