What did you do with my flower ?" "I gave it a sly kiss while they were measuring the ground; and (don't tell anybody!) I put it next to my heart to bring me luck." "Was that just before he shot at you ?" "Yes." "How did he shoot ?" "He walked (as the seconds had arranged it) ten paces forward; and then he stopped, and lifted his pistol--" "Don't tell me any more! Oh, to think of my being the miserable cause of such horrors! I'll never dance again as long as I live.

Did you think he had killed you, when the bullet wounded your poor neck ?" "No; I hardly felt it at first." "Hardly felt it?
How he talks! And when the wretch had done his best to kill you, and when it came to your turn, what did you do ?" "Nothing." "What! You didn't walk your ten paces forward ?" "No." "And you never shot at him in return ?" "No; I had no quarrel with him, poor fellow; I just stood where I was, and fired in the air--" Before he could stop her, Charlotte seized his hand, and kissed it with an hysterical fervor of admiration, which completely deprived him of his presence of mind.
"Why shouldn't I kiss the hand of a hero ?" she cried, with tears of enthusiasm sparkling in her eyes.

"Nobody but a hero would have given that man his life; nobody but a hero would have pardoned him, while the blood was streaming from the wound that he had inflicted.

I respect you, I admire you.

Oh, don't think me bold! I can't control myself when I hear of anything noble and good.