Why or for what reason I could not fancy, but I felt the hand of Alice tremble as she arranged the last braids of my hair; and she answered me in the strangest, subdued, troubled voice, "And when you know him, Miss Hester--when you know him--oh! be kind to the poor young gentleman--if it were only for your mother's sake." "For my mother's sake! are you crazy, Alice?" I said, turning round upon her with utter amazement, "how is it possible that you can connect my mother with him?" Alice seemed greatly disconcerted at my sudden question. She retreated a step or two, as if I had made a real attack upon her, and said in a faltering apologetic voice, "I'll maybe never have to wait upon you, and talk to you another morning, Miss Hester--you oughtn't to be hard on poor old Alice to-day." "Why should you never wait upon me, and talk to me again?" I said. "You are full of whims this morning, Alice! Shall I not find you here when we come back again? You do not mean that you will not come to me?" "I never will leave your papa while he has need of me, dear," said Alice, humbly. "Ah, he will permit you to stay with him--he will not permit me," said I, "but papa will get strong, and then you will come. I wish you would not be mysterious, Alice. I wish you would not give me these prophetic warnings. Do you really think I have such a dreadful temper that I will make everybody unhappy, or what do you mean?" "It's not that, Miss Hester," said Alice hurriedly, retreating once more before me, and taking out of its folds the dress which I was about to put on. "Because if you think so," I said, recovering from my momentary anger, "you should not speak to me about it, you ought to warn the person most concerned." I smiled at the thought--to warn Harry of my hereditary pride and my faulty character--to caution him how to deal with me--with a proud assurance which warmed my very heart, I smiled at the thought. Yes, I was secure and blessed in my firm persuasion of what I was to Harry. I was his lady of romance--his perfect ideal woman--his first love--and I rejoiced in him because he thought so. It did not make me vain, but it made him the ideal lover, the true knight.