"Like the rough brown sheath of the cocoa-nut, and the snow-white fruit within."
"What?"
"My hand round yours."
She said nothing.
He released her hand.
"You will take care of that hand, Maud, while I am away? Some time someone will value that hand more than the regalia in the Tower. It will be to him above all price. He would like to set guards over it as they set guards over the royal jewels, and yet would allow no one to act as sentinel but himself."
Such talk was new to her. She did not say anything.
"We have grown good friends in the few days we have been meeting one another?"
"Oh, yes."
"The best of friends?"