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Very fair and sweet Prudence looked, lithe and vigorous, and

straight as a young poplar, with her shining black hair curling

into little tight rings about her ears, and with great, shy eyes,

and red, red ht seek very far ere he

found such another e

beauty

"Good evening, Mr Peter!" said she, dropping race that could not have been surpassed by any duchess in the

land; but, as for poor George, she did not even notice hilance toward her

"You come just when you areher of the heavy basket, "for here be two hungry ry as a lion, I be!"

"Three hungryfor your

step this half-hour and more"

Quoth Prudence shyly: "For the sake of my basket?"

"Ay, for sure!" croaked the Ancient; "so ravenous as a tiger I be!"

"No," said I, shaking my head, "basket or no basket, you are

equally welcoe only