“What wouldst thou with thy child, papa? my birds, and young flowers, even now mourn my absence.”
“And canst thou not give one hour unto thy father, Ysy? What will thy birds and flowers do when I bring thee a right noble bird, an eagle among birds, for thine own? Wilt thou then give up all others and love but only that?”
“What does my papa mean?” tremblingly replied the maiden.
“I mean that thou art to be a child no longer.”
“But, papa, all my pretty birds and—”
“Thou shalt have a bird worth the whole, a right proud gallant bird. Ysy, dost thou remember the Marquis of Talavera?”
“What of him, dearest papa?”
“Dost thou remember him?”
“Yes, papa.”
“This Marquis hath sought thee, Belle, in marriage, and I have said thou shalt be his bride.”