“But the snake!” cried she, with a shudder.
“It is perfectly harmless. If you took it in your hand and played with it, it would not hurt you. Those beautiful, bright-striped creatures have no venom in them. Come, let us step down to the edge of the stream and wash the stains from your face and hands, and then you shall show me where your strawberries are waiting for us in the long grass.”
He took her hand and attempted to draw her along, but she resisted with astonishing strength, planting her back against the railing that divided the lane from the corn-field.
“Helen, you will come with me,” said he, in the same tone, and with the same magnetic glance, with which he had once before subdued her. She remained still a few moments, then the rigid muscles began to relax, and hanging down her head, she sobbed aloud.
“You will come,” repeated he, leading her gently along towards the bank of the stream, “because you know I would not lead you into danger, and because if you do not try to conquer such fears, they will make you very unhappy through life. Don’t you wish to be useful and do good to others, when you grow older?”
“Oh, yes,” replied Helen, with animation—“but,” added she, despondingly, “I never shall.”
“It depends upon yourself,” replied her friend; “some of the greatest men that ever lived, were once timid little children. They made themselves great by overcoming their fears, by having a strong will.”
They were now close to the water, which, just where they stood, was as still and smooth as glass. Helen saw herself in the clear, blue mirror, and laughed aloud—then she blushed to think how strange and ugly she looked. Eagerly scooping up the water in the hollow of her hand, she bathed her face, and removed the disfiguring stains.
“You have no napkin,” said the young doctor, taking a snowy linen handkerchief from his pocket, which emitted a sweet, faint, rose-like perfume. “Will this do?”
He wiped her face, which looked fairer than ever after the ablution, and then first one and then the other of her trembling hands, for they still trembled from nervous agitation.