"
"But you DO like it," said Paul, touched with this first hearing of
her name in her own musical accents, "or would like it if you heard
yourself pronounce it." It suddenly recurred to him, with a
strange thrill of pleasure, that he himself had given it to her.
It was as if he had created some musical instrument to which she
had just given voice. In his enthusiasm he had thrown himself on
the bench beside her in an attitude that, I fear, was not as
dignified as became his elderly office.
"But you don't think that is my NAME," said the girl, quickly.
"I beg your pardon?" said Paul, hesitatingly.
"You don't think that anybody would have been so utterly idiotic as
to call me after a ground-vine--a vegetable?" she continued
petulantly.
"Eh?" stammered Paul.
"A name that could be so easily translated," she went on, half
scornfully, "and when translated, was no possible title for
anybody? Think of it--Miss Good Herb! It is too ridiculous for
anything."
Paul was not usually wanting in self-possession in an emergency, or
in skill to meet attack. But he was so convinced of the truth of
the girl's accusation, and now recalled so vividly his own
consternation on hearing the result of his youthful and romantic
sponsorship for the first time from Pendleton, that he was struck
with confusion.
Pages:
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88