The flowers, whose fragrance was too strong, yet which she had not the strength to remove, lay on the coverlet before her.

They were intended for Lienhard, and as she stretched her slender fingers toward them and tried to clasp them she succeeded.

She even found strength to hold out her right hand to him with a beseeching glance.

And lo! ere her arm fell again the proud man had seized the flowers.

Then she saw him fasten the pinks on the breast of his dark doublet, and heard the thrill of deep emotion in his voice, as he said: "I thank you, dear Kuni, for the beautiful flowers.