“Yes, it is hard; but Uncle Marcel says that he and you must console each other; and he says he will lend you books and give you advice, and help you, if you wish, to improve your mind, David Lindsay. And here, come in here, and see what I have got for you! I told uncle I was going to give them to you, and he did not object. And old Laban brought them down here for me yesterday. Come and see,” she said, as she led the way into the old boat-house and pointed to the trunk.
“Oh!” exclaimed the boy. “Books?”
“Yes! Drag the trunk out into the light where I can show it to you, David Lindsay.”
The boy obeyed.
The girl then unlocked the trunk and gleefully displayed its contents, looking up into the boy’s face with eyes dancing with the delight of delighting. Indeed, his eyes, radiant with rapture, responded fully.
“Oh! oh! what heaps of books and things!” he cried.
“They are all, all yours, David Lindsay!”
“Oh! oh! how generous you are! And—oh! how happy you must be!” he exclaimed, fairly catching his breath in ecstasy.
“Indeed I am very, very happy, David Lindsay!” she cried.
And so she was at that moment, while looking on her playmate’s happiness, and forgetting that she had to leave him soon and go away from home.