'No. Store them up for reference when I am hard to understand.'
'I do not want any references on that chapter. What are your small facts?'
'Little hints of how I have lived,and with what atmosphere and influences. Specimens of the soil wherein Wych Hazel grew to be "all hat and bushes." '
'And when did she abdicate?' said Rollo, bringing both arms round her now.
'Othe precise day does not matter,' said the girl, as a very 'precise' day last winter came full into view. 'Dates are useless things.'
'Tell me!' said he softly. 'When did you abdicate?'
'You mean' she said, hesitating, with her eyes on the ground.
'What you mean.'
'But Olaf' Hazel left her protestation unfinished. 'I suppose, really, it was a year ago,' she said, not looking at him. 'Only that week before Christmas I was worriedand of course I was full of freaks. And soI felt as if I was doing every thing for the last time.' Hazel hung her head, leaving the 'freaks' to their fate.
'How 'for the last time'?' said Rollo, with provoking apparent obtuseness.