"Did you ever see a poet, Miss Meredith?" he asked.
Then Jaquelina started and blushed.
"No, in truth, I never did," she said. "It was only my fancy. Perhaps I should have expressed my thought better if I had said that you realize my ideal of how a poet should look."
"You flatter me," he said, smiling, yet in his heart Ronald Valchester was pleased at her words, for he saw that she meant them and had no thought of flattering him.
Quite naturally he said to her after a moment of silent thought.
"Are you fond of poetry, Miss Meredith?"
"I love it better than anything in the world!" she replied, with enthusiasm.
"Tell me the name of your favorite poet," he said.
He saw the quick, sensitive flush of shame leap into the soft cheek at the natural question.
"I cannot tell you," she said. "I have had no fair opportunity of making up my mind. I have read bits from them all, but never a whole volume. We have not many books at home."