Be serious, John, and swear to me that you will keep my secret." "Well, then, I swear, princess; I swear by your mother's spirit to betray not a word of what you are going to tell me." "I thank you, John.

Now lean this way nearer to me, lest the breeze may catch a single word of mine and bear it farther.

John, I love!" She saw the half-surprised, half-incredulous smile which played around John Heywood's lips.

"Oh," continued she, passionately, "you believe me not.

You consider my fourteen years, and you think the child knows nothing yet of a maiden's feelings.