"Thou art over quick in thy speech," said the other, turning and speaking coldly.
"Nay, pardon me, sir, I did forget my station," said the other, bending his head and crossing his hands upon his bosom.
"Nay, Edwin, you go too far! I do not like this manner, and this, I know not what to call it, way you have of assuming an attitude, when reproved, becoming a bashful girl rather than the manhood thy mustache, if not thy years, challenges thee to assert. I will answer thy question. It was a fair and gentle creature, whom in my boyhood I knew only as the humble sailor knows the stars that burn nightly above him. I gazed on her afar off, and dared not approach her nearer, for she was noble, and, as thou knowest, I was lowly born. She was gentle, kind, and good; gratitude fills my heart when I speak of her, for I owe her much; she first awakened ambition in me, and pointed me the way to make myself noble. Her eloquence I shall never forget. Its effect upon me is indelible. I will some day tell thee how first I met her, and the interest she took in me."
"Did you see her often?"
"No. But once we spoke together! But that once produced the seeds of the fruit of happiness I since have gathered."
"Strange that seeing her but once should have had such an effect upon thee."
"It was like sunlight first let in upon the man's vision who is born blind."
"If such the influence she held over you—if thus you speak of her now, why did not her image take a deeper hold in your heart—nay, why did you not love her, sir?"
"Because I loved another."
The youth sighed, and then said, "What motive induced her to take this interest in you?"