After a while she came to this: "Thou are mated with a clown, And the grossness of his nature, will have weight to bear thee down." Laddie threw back his head, and how he laughed! The Princess put down the book and looked at him so surprised.
"Are you reading that to me because you think it appropriate ?" asked Laddie.
"I am reading it because it is conceded to be one of the most beautiful poems ever written," said the Princess.
"You knew when you began that you would come to those lines." "I never even thought of such a thing." "But you knew that is how your father would regard any relationship, friendly or deeper, with me!" "I cannot possibly be held responsible for what my father thinks." "It is natural that you should think alike." "Not necessarily! You told me recently that you didn't agree with your father on many subjects." "Kindly answer me this," said Laddie: "Do you feel that I'm a 'clown' because I'm not schooled to the point on all questions of good manners?
Do you find me gross because I plow and sow ?" "You surprise me," said the Princess.

"My consenting to know and to spend a friendly hour with you here is sufficient answer.

I have not found the slightest fault with your manners.

I have seen no suspicion of 'grossness' about you." "Will you tell me, frankly, exactly what you do think of me ?" "Surely! I think you are a clean, decent man, who occasionally kindly consents to put a touch of human interest into an hour, for a very lonely girl.

What has happened, Laddie?
This is not like you." Laddie sat straight and studied the beech branches.