"Yes. Joe understood, you see, and I was surprised when HE did. But I was just sure you could—with all this to look at."
The lady frowned. Half-unconsciously she glanced about her as if contemplating flight. Then she turned back to the boy.
"But how came you here? Who are you?" she cried.
"I'm David. I walked here through the little path back there. I didn't know where it went to, but I'm so glad now I found out!"
"Oh, are you!" murmured the lady, with slightly uplifted brows.
She was about to tell him very coldly that now that he had found his way there he might occupy himself in finding it home again, when the boy interposed rapturously, his eyes sweeping the scene before him:—
"Yes. I didn't suppose, anywhere, down here, there was a place one half so beautiful!"
An odd feeling of uncanniness sent a swift exclamation to the lady's lips.
"'Down here'! What do you mean by that? You speak as if you came from—above," she almost laughed.
"I did," returned David simply. "But even up there I never found anything quite like this,"—with a sweep of his hands,—"nor like you, O Lady of the Roses," he finished with an admiration that was as open as it was ardent.