“You are far more beautiful than I expected.”
“Beautiful!” she repeated, and her face lighted up.
“I was frightened when I saw you; I took you for a fairy princess,” said Hermann, yielding to the irresistible temptation of pleasing her.
Alba’s face clouded over. “Now I know you are laughing at me, monseigneur; you don’t believe in fairies, and you know very well I’m not a bit like a princess.”
“I have seen many a one who would have given a great deal to be like you,” said Hermann.
“Like me! I thought princesses were all so happy!”
Hermann smiled. “Sometimes they have hearts,” he said.
“Sometimes! And does that make them unhappy?”
He turned to walk under the trees, tacitly inviting her to do the same.
“It endows them with the power of loving,” he answered absently.