"I—I'd like to be your friend, too," he stammered.
Bela smiled at him dazzlingly. "I lak hear you say that," she returned simply.
They fell silent, mutually embarrassed, but not unhappy. There was something both delightful and dangerous in their proximity within that secret circle. The eyes of both confessed it.
"Will you eat?" asked Bela, "I have bread and fish."
He shook his head. "I have to go soon," he replied with a glance at the sun.
Her face fell. "I lak feed anybody come to my place," she said wistfully.
"Oh, well, go ahead," assented Sam, smiling.
She hastened to prepare a simple meal. Self-consciousness did not trouble her if she might be busy. Sam loved to follow her graceful movements by the fire. What harm? he asked the watch-dog within. This dog had grown drowsy, anyhow.
Bela's curiosity in turn began to have way.
"Where you live before you come here, Sam?" she asked.