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Page 25
"Then once - and even
then Emilio was
But a new friend - my father sat with me
One summer evening. Ah! I feel it now!
The dim sweet greyness coming tenderly
Over the cloudless sky, the gurgling dip
Of passing oars below, the hushlike sound
Of voices breaking through the stillness when
The day gives slow goodbye and falls asleep,
The scent of roses and of orange-bloom
About our windows! We sat quietly,
Thinking our twilight thoughts; but all at once
He said 'Child you have won a noble heart.
I am thankful for it; I have given consent.'
I cried 'Oh no! Too soon! I did not know!'
And he, all troubled, took my hands in his.
'How's this my child? You love him, do you not?
'I do not know,' I said, 'I cannot know,
I am afraid.' 'Ah well,' he said, and smiled,
'I know: I am not blind. And now to-day
Your Emilio spoke, and I said Yes to him,
Most cheerfully said Yes. My little girl,
I am not young in years, and in my health
Am older than my years, and I am kept
In dread of death because of you: my heart
Will have a sore weight off it when I know
You are in as safe keeping as my own,
And one more happy for you. And I'm proud,
Yes proud, you puss, of my fine son-in-law.
I'm as happy, I believe, as you can be.'
He kissed me, and I kissed him back gain,
And loved him more than ever and was glad
Because he was so glad. But yet I said,
'Am I happy do you think? I scarcely know,
It is all dreamlike. Did you tell him then
I was to marry him?' He laughed. 'I said
All I could say. He's coming presently
And you shall tell him what you like. But yet
I'll own he is prepared to be made wild
With happiness - such joy I never saw.'
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