“You may rest safely assured there. I know no one who resembles her.”
“Is she kind?”
“The essence of it.”
“Then what of Mariana, and such as she?”
His brow clouded. “You ask questions I’m not disposed to answer.”
“Ah! but I’m thinking of my jewel. I love it so. Your mother would not value it a tenth part as much as I. Nay, before to-day it, and others like it, have been reckoned rubbish. She might think so too.”
“Give me leave to take it to her, and await her verdict. If she underrates it, I’ll bring it back to you.”
“I’m afraid I must give the dragon so strong a dose there’ll be no life left in it.”
“If it is what you told me, the more honour remains to you in killing it with such a potion.”
And Rosalie laughed, but her eyes were wonderfully serious, and she said simply: