But
she would not hear it.
"That would have been very unknightly and disloyal," she said. "I would
not have had you do it, for you would have been blamed by men. And then
I should never have heard what I heard yesterday and last night, the
very best words I ever heard in all my life--the cry of a great army
blessing one man for a good work well done."
"I have done nothing," answered Gilbert, stolidly determined to
depreciate himself in her eyes.
But she smiled and laid her gloved hand quickly upon his lips.
"I would not have another laugh at you, as I do!" she cried.
He looked at her, and the mask of grave melancholy which was fast
becoming his natural expression began to soften, as if it could not
last forever.
"I have often thought of you and wondered whether you would think well
of my deeds," he said.
"You see!" she laughed. "And now because I am proud of you, you pretend
that you have done nothing! That is poor praise of my good sight and
judgment."
He laughed, too. Since the dawn of time, women have retorted thus upon
brave men too modest of their doings; and since the first woman found
the trick, it has never failed to please man. But love needs not
novelty, for he himself is always young; the stars of night are not
less fair in our eyes because men knew the 'sweet influence of the
Pleiades' in Job's day, nor is the scent of new-mown hay less delicate
because all men love it. The old is the best, even in love, which is
young.
"Say what you will," answered Gilbert, presently, "we are together to-
day.
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