Aura's questioning glance of surprise brought him to himself. "That is so pretty—what is that?" she asked eagerly. "Never have I heard one speak like that before."
"Why, that's poetry; haven't you ever heard any poetry?"
The girl shook her head. "It's just like music—it sings. Do it again."
The Very Young Man suddenly felt very self-conscious.
"Do it again—please." She looked pleadingly up into his face and the Very Young Man went on:
"Beneath your feet what treasures I would fling!
The stars would be your pearls upon a string;
The world a ruby for your finger-ring;
And you could have the sun and moon to wear
If I were king."
The girl clapped her hands artlessly. "Oh, that is so pretty. Never did I know that words could sound like that. Say it some more, please."
And the Very Young Man, sitting under the stars beside this beautiful little creature of another world, searched into his memory and for her who never before had known that words could rhyme, opened up the realm of poetry.