She brought it to
him, and then for the first time Ronald saw her clearly, and that
one glance was fatal to him.
She was no calm, grand beauty. She had a shy, sweet, blushing
face, resembling nothing so much as a rosebud, with fresh, ripe
lips; pretty little teeth, which gleamed like white jewels, large
dark eyes, bright as stars, and veiled by long lashes; dark hair,
soft and shining. She was indeed so fair, so modest and
graceful, that Ronald Earle was charmed.
"It must be because you gathered them that they are so nice," he
said, taking the little basket from her hands. "Rest awhile,
Dora--you must be tired with this hot sun shining full upon you.
Sit here under the shade of this apple tree."
He watched the crimson blushes that dyed her fair young face.
She never once raised her dark eyes to his. He had seen
beautiful and stately ladies, but none so coy or bewitching as
this pretty maiden. The more he looked at her the more he
admired her. She had no delicate patrician loveliness, no
refined grace; but for glowing, shy, fresh beauty, who could
equal her?
So the young heir of Earlescourt sat, pretending to enjoy the
strawberries, but in reality engrossed by the charming figure
before him.
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