Down
there in the beech wood there is a beautiful glade. I loved to play there
better than anywhere else. I used to lie there on a fur rug and play at
paper dolls. I always fancied myself a duchess or a princess.'
'You are full of dreams, Emily.'
'Yes; I suppose I am. Everything is pleasant and happy in dreams. I love
dreaming. They thought I'd never learn to read; but it wasn't because I was
stupid, but because I wouldn't study. I'd put my hands to my head, and,
looking at the book, which I didn't see, I'd think of all sorts of things,
imagine myself a fairy princess.'
'And it was in this room that you dreamed all those dreams?'
'Yes; in this dear old room. You see that picture: that is one of the
things I intended to ask you to give me.'
'What? That old, dilapidated print?'
'You mustn't abuse my picture. I used to spend hours wondering if those
horsemen galloping so madly through the wood were robbers, and if they had
robbed the castle shown between the trees. I used to wonder if they would
succeed in escaping. They wouldn't gallop their horses like that unless
they were being pursued.... Can I have the picture?'
'Of course you can. Is that--that is not all you are going to ask me for?'
'I did think of asking you for a few more things.
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