Few traces of it are visible, but her eyes are still like those in the portrait, and besides she is so rich." "That doesn't give happiness." "But why has she remained unmarried ?" The baron shrugged his shoulders, and replied: "It certainly didn't suit the men." "Then why didn't she go into a convent ?" "Who knows?
Women's hearts are harder to understand than your Greek books.

You'll learn that later.

What were you saying to your aunt as I came up ?" "Why, just see," replied the boy, putting the bridle in his mouth, and drawing the glove from his left hand, "she slipped this ring on my finger." "A splendid emerald! She doesn't usually like to part with such things." "She first offered me another, saying she would give it to me to make amends for the thumps I received yesterday as a faithful follower of the king.

Isn't it comical ?" "More than that, I should think." "It was contrary to my nature to accept gifts for my bruises, and I hastily drew my hand back, saying the burgher lads had taken some home from me, and I wouldn't have the ring as a reward for that." "Right, Nico, right." "So she said too, put the little ring back in the box, found this one, and here it is." "A valuable gem!" murmured the baron, thinking: "This gift is a good omen.

The Hoogstratens and he are her nearest heirs, and if the silly girl doesn't stay with her, it might happen--" But he found no time to finish these reflections, Nicolas interrupted them by saying: "It's beginning to rain already.