He walked by my side
through the long meadows, and told me strange stories of foreign
lands he had visited--such stories! I forgot that he was a
stranger, and talked to him as I am talking to you now. I met
him again and again. Nay, do not turn from me; I shall die if
you shrink away."
The gentle arms clasped her more closely.
"I am not turning from you," replied Lillian. "I can not love
you more than I do now."
"I met him" continued Beatrice, "every day, unknown to every one
about me. He praised my beauty, and I was filled with joy; then
he talked to me of love, and I listened without anger. I swear
to you," she said, "that I did it all without thought; it was the
novelty, the flattery, the admiration that pleased me, not he
himself, I believe Lily. I rarely thought of him. He interested
me; he had eloquent words at his command, and seeing how I loved
romance, he told me stories of adventure that held me enchanted
and breathless. I lost sight of him in thinking of the wonders
he related. They are to blame, Lily, who shut me out from the
living world. Had I been in my proper place here at home, where
I could have seen and judged people rightly, it would not have
happened.
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