A Silver Brand — page 118: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

110 "A SILVER BRAND. ~~ “She looked down at the curling waves, and laughed again as she answered : . ‘“ «T did not know it. I have been so busy drawing, you see. And my thoughts have been away—so far away, 1n dreamland. I did not expect to see the prince so soon, though.’ ‘‘ «The prince?’ I repeated, doubtfully. “She burst into a merry peal of laughter that was so naive and childlike I could not refrain from joining it. “ «That is what I call you. For I have been sure you would come. And you look like it, yes, Iam sure you are very like what I imagined,’ she said, when she could speak without laughing at the perplexity of my face I sup- pose. ‘Of course you don’t understand, but I will tell you about it.’ “ ‘Then come in the boat, please,’ I said, ‘it makes me giddy to see you moving so carelessly on the rock.’ “She came unhesitatingly, with a child’s innocent frank- ness of trust, and took her seat at the bow, after a quick glance all about the rocks above us. ““‘T am an enchanted princess, you. know,’ began she, ‘like the heroines of the old fairy tales, and I am shut up here, and guarded jealously.’ “ ‘By dragons?’ questioned I, merrily. “At which she shook her head with a pretty, puzzled look that was exceedingly charming. ‘* "Not exactly, and yet Aunt Theodosia has a very dragonish disposition, and her looks are not likely to belie the idea. Yes, I am sure, to carry out the fairy story. Aunt Theodosia must be adragon. Is she not lke it? See!’ : “She made a few rapid strokes with her pencil on a bit of paper, and passed over to mean admirable caricature of a sharp, straight, stern-looking spinster, and a queer, gaunt rail of a man. “ “There are the dragons,’ declared she; ‘but dear, gentle Auntie Pen is a dove, who is enchanted also, and cannot help me, because of the dragons. So you see I have puzzled, and hoped, and dreamed. I knew, though, all the time thatthe gallant prince would come and break the spell. I am so glad to see you; I know you will help me.’ ‘“*Well, here is the boat. She is a witch when her sail is shaken out to a favoring breeze,’ I answered, hardly knowing whether to take her talk in jest or earnest; ‘whither shall I take you 2’ “The brightness dropped off from her face, yet did not comicbooks con