"It could not so be, my lord," returned Christina with drooping,
blushing face; "it would not be maidenly in me. Oh, my lord, you are
kind and generous, make it not hard for me to do what other maidens
less lonely have friends to do for them!"
"Kind and generous?" said Eberhard, leaning over the back of the
chair as if trying to begin a fresh score. "This from you, who told
me once I was no true knight!"
"I shall call you a true knight with all my heart," cried Christina,
the tears rushing into her eyes, "if you will respect my weakness and
loneliness."
He stood up again, as if to move away; then paused, and, twisting his
gold chain, said, "And how am I ever to be what the happy one bade
me, if you will not show me how?"
"My error would never show you the right," said Christina, with a
strong effort at firmness, and retreating at once through the door of
the staircase, whence she made her way to the kitchen, and with great
difficulty found an excuse for her presence there.
It had been a hard struggle with her compassion and gratitude, and,
poor little Christina felt with dismay, with something more than
these.
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