Sven digital books

"Your permission to keep for my own the original 'Queen
Guinevere'," he replied; "that picture is more to me than all
that I possess. Only one thing is dearer, the original. May I
ever hope to make that mine also?"
Valentine opened her magnificent eyes in wonder. It was an
offer of marriage then that he was making.
"Have you no word for me, Miss Charteris?" he said. "I lay my
life and my love at your feet. Have you no word for me?"
"I really do not know what to say," replied Valentine.
"You do not refuse me?" said her lover.
"Well, no," replied Valentine.
"And you do not accept me?" he continued.
"Decidedly not," she replied, more firmly.
"Then I shall consider there is some ground for hope," he said.
Valentine had recovered her self-possession. Her lover gazed
anxiously at her beautiful face, its proud calm was unbroken.
"I will tell you how it is," resumed Valentine, after a short
pause; "I like you better, perhaps, than any man I know, but I do
not love you."
"You do not forbid me to try all I can to win your love?" asked
the prince.
"No," was the calm reply.


Pages:
170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194