“Do you know what I have done?” said he, almost humbly, as she paused. “I have bought a sail-boat for you; I thought you might have a fancy for sailing,” and he laughed.
His kindness, which savored somewhat of the prayer of the needy, was especially calculated to touch her just now; she nodded,—and then he grew agitated, and eagerly whispered to her to go round the outskirts of the town and follow the avenue to the right straight to the large, yellow boat-house; he would meet her behind it and no one could see them there. She started off, and he came after her, joyful, yet deferential as an aged child, and led her to the boat. They sailed about for a time in the gentle breeze, then laying to alongside a rocky island, they made the boat fast and clambered ashore. He had with him all sorts of dainties for her, which he gave her with a timorous joy, and he brought forth his flute and played for her. The sight of his happiness made her for a time forget her own trouble, and as there crept over her the melancholy always excited by the pleasure of weak people, she also found herself growing fond of him.
From that day forth she had a new and perpetual secret from her mother, and this soon led her into keeping her outside of everything.
