Presently, however, he said:
"Let us begin another!"
He must certainly have found it a very agreeable pastime to say that.
It was this time a skein of silk that the little lady wanted to have unwound. This was a still higher symbol of tenderness. Not in vain does the folksong sing of the captive of love being bound with silken chains.
"But, my dear, when I was a little boy, and had to hold skeins, my sisters, by way of compensation, used to tell me tales."
"With all my heart."
"Fire away, then: once upon a time...!"
"Once upon a time there was a girl who always wanted to die."
"Ah! I scarcely bargained for that."
"She was constantly pale, and took it for a compliment when people said to her that she was as white as death."