“Poor Miss Handsome-does cuts but a sorry figure beside Miss Handsome-is in every man’s eyes, your own not excepted, Mr. Knight, though it pleases you to throw off so,” said Elfride saucily. And lowering her voice: “You ought not to have taken so much trouble to save me from falling over the cliff, for you don’t think mine a life worth much trouble evidently.”
“Perhaps you think mine was not worth yours.”
“It was worth anybody’s!”
Her hand was plashing in the little waterfall, and her eyes were bent the same way.
“You talk about my severity with you, Elfride. You are unkind to me, you know.”
“How?” she asked, looking up from her idle occupation.
“After my taking trouble to get jewellery to please you, you wouldn’t accept it.”
“Perhaps I would now; perhaps I want to.”
“Do!” said Knight.
And the packet was withdrawn from his pocket and presented the third time. Elfride took it with delight. The obstacle was rent in twain, and the significant gift was hers.