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The Heart

Page 76

"When, when, Harry?"

"Oh, many a time, Sir Humphrey."

"But what? I pray thee, tell me what she said, Harry."

"I have not charged my mind, lad."

"But think of something. I pray thee, think of something, Harry." He

looked at me with such exceeding wistfulness that I was forced to

cudgel my brains for something which, having a slight savour of

truth, might be seasoned to pungency at fancy. "Often have I heard

her say that she liked a fair man," I replied, and indeed I had, and

believed her to have said it because I was dark, and seemingly

inattentive to some new grace of hers as to the tying of her hair or

fastening of her kerchief.

"Did she indeed say that, Harry, and do you think she had me in mind?"

cried Sir Humphrey.

"Are you not a fair man?"

"Yes, yes, I am a fair man, am I not, Harry? What else? Sure you

have heard her say more than that."

"I have heard her say she liked a hearty laugh, and one who counted

not costs when his mind were set on aught, but rode straight for it

though all the bars were up."

"That sure is I, Harry, unless my mother stand in the way. A man

cannot bring his mother's head low, Harry, but sure if she forbid

nor know not, as in this case of this tobacco plot, I stop for

naught. Sure she meant me, then, Harry."

"And I have heard her say that she liked a young man, a man no older

than she."

"Sure, sure she meant me by that, Harry, for I am the youngest of

them all--not yet twenty. Oh, dear Harry, she had me in mind by

that. Do you not think so?"

"I know of no one else whom she could have had in mind," I answered.

The lad was blushing with delight and confusion like a girl. He cast

down his eyes before me; he stammered when he spoke. "Harry, if she

but love me, I swear I could do as brave deeds as Bacon," he said.

"I would die would she but carry about a lock of my hair on her

bosom as she does his. I would, Harry. And you think I have some

chance?"

My heart smote me lest I had misled him, for I knew with no

certainty the maid's mind. "As much chance as any, and more than

many, lad," I said, "and I will do what I can for thee."

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