And it was even so; for she felt that she needed strength and protection in an hour of surely coming trial.

A feeble sigh and a drooping of the eyelids attested her disappointment.

And yet as he leaned towards her she did not sit more erect, but rather suffered her body to incline to him.

He still retained her hand, and she permitted him to toy with it, even slightly returning the pressure he gave.
"You shall be my teacher in the love of nature." He spoke with a glow of true feeling.

"The lesson of this evening I shall never forget.