human
Will you tell me, Fräulein, he asked,
gpt
No, no, she answered laughingly,
human
I am not a sorceress.
gpt
You almost made me believe you were, said Max,
human
You gave me your word you would not tell!
gpt
Neither did I tell aught save that you said you were a sorceress. He laughed and said--
human
Yes, yes, what did he say?
gpt
He said--I am sure you will not take amiss what he said?
human
No, no, indeed no! Tell me,
gpt
He said you were a witch, if brown eyes, dimpling smiles, and girlish beauty could make one,
human
Ah, did he say that of me? asked the girl, musingly. After a pause she continued,
gpt
That was kind in Sir Karl and--and evidently sincere. After another pause devoted to revery she said:
human
Perhaps I shall be his friend sometime in a manner he little expects. Even the friendship of a helpless burgher girl is not to be despised. But he is wrong. I am not beautiful, she poutingly continued.
gpt
Now let us examine my face. She laughed, and settled herself contentedly upon the stone, as if to take up a serious discussion.
human
I often do so in the mirror. Vain? Of course I am!
gpt
I am only too willing to examine it,
human
My mouth, she said, pursing her lips and lifting her face temptingly for his inspection,
gpt
Perfect,
human
Ah, that was nicely spoken, Little Max, and quickly, for you.
gpt
exclaimed the young man.
human
Where heard you that name? No one save my mother has ever used it; no one but Karl and my father has ever heard her speak the words. Did Karl tell you of it?
gpt
Karl did not tell me, she responded,
human
That hardly seems possible, returned Max,
gpt
Let us talk about my face, said the girl, full of the spirit of mischief, and wishing to put off the discussion of the ring.
human
Now, my eyes, of which Sir Karl spoke so kindly, are--
gpt
The most wonderful in the world, interrupted Max.
human
They are brilliant as priceless jewels, fathomless as deep water, gentle and tender as--
gpt
There, there, Little Max, she cried, checking with a gesture his flow of unexpected eloquence.
human
I declare! you are not so slow as you seem. I will tell you just how much of a sorceress I am. I thought to flatter you by saying a great lady had given you the ring, and lo, I was right unless you are adroitly leading me to believe in my own sorcery. Is she a great lady? Come, tell me the story.
gpt
Yes, it was a great lady, a very great lady who gave me the ring,
human
And was I right in my other divination? she asked, looking down and flushing slightly.
gpt
Did--did she wish to marry you? But you need not answer that question.
human
I will gladly answer it, returned Max, leaning forward, resting his elbow on his knees and looking at the ground between his feet.
gpt
I hoped she did. I--I longed for it.
human
Perhaps she possessed vast estates?
gpt
Yes, she possessed vast estates, said Max,
human
But how could the lady have felt sure you were not seeking her for the sake of her estates?
gpt
She could not know, answered Max.
human
But I sought her for her own sake and for no other reason.
gpt
What manner of person was she? asked Yolanda.
human
Was she dark or light, short or tall, plain of feature or beautiful, amiable of temper or vixenish? Was she like any one you have ever seen?
gpt
She was beautiful of feature, answered Max.
human
Her eyes and her hair were dark as yours are. She was short of stature, I have been told.
gpt
I declare, Sir Max, you were in love with a lady you had never seen. It was her estate you loved.
human
No, no, said Max, earnestly.
gpt
I ardently desired--
human
Perhaps if you were to see her, your enthusiasm would vanish, said Yolanda, interrupting him almost sharply.
gpt
My magic tells me she is a squat little creature, with a wizened face; her eyes are sharp and black, and her nose is a-peak, not unlike mine. That, she is sour and peevish of temper, as I am, there can be no doubt. And, although she be great and rich as the Princess of Burgundy, I warrant you she is not one whit handsomer nor kinder in disposition than I.
human
I would not wish her better than you in any respect. You wrong both yourself and the lady to speak as you do. Those who know her say the lady has not her like in all the world.
gpt
Doubtless the lady had like news of you, and is curious to know what manner of man you are. She too may have dreamed of an ideal.
human
How do you know she has never seen me? asked Max, who had not fully caught her reply when she spoke of the fact that he had never seen the lady of the ring.
gpt
I shall surely come to believe you are a sorceress.
human
No, I am not, she answered emphatically.
gpt
You shall carry that jest no further. A moment since you said those who know her say so and so, and you believed she was short of stature. Had you ever seen the lady, you would know if she were tall or short. You would not be in doubt upon so important a matter as the stature of your lady-love.
human
But you have spoken of the lady as in the past. I hope she is not dead?
gpt
No, answered Max, gravely,