He
felt that she must have been sheltered and petted and waited on all her
life; one could not help yearning to wait on her.
He answered inarticulately, "Oh, some day," in reply to her question, and
then burst into outright laughter.
"I might have known you wouldn't take me seriously," she said with no
indignation, only a sad wistfulness. "I am well used to it. I think it is
because I am not tall; people take big girls with more gravity. Big people
are nearly always listened to."
"Listened to?" he said, and felt that he must throw himself on his knees
before her. "You oughtn't to mind being Titania. She was listened to,
you----"
She sprang to her feet and her eyes flashed. "Do you think personal
comment is ever in good taste?" she cried fiercely, and in his surprise he
almost fell off the bench. "If there is one thing I cannot bear, it is to
be told that I am '_small_' I am not! Every one who isn't a giantess isn't
'_small_'. I _hate_ personalities! I am a great deal over five feet, a
great deal more than that. I----"
"Please, _please_," he said, "I didn't----"
"Don't say you are sorry," she interrupted, and in spite of his contrition
he found her angry voice delicious, it was still so sweet, hot with
indignation, but ringing, not harsh. "Don't say you didn't mean it;
because you did! You can't unsay it, you cannot alter it! Ah!" She drew in
her breath with a sharp sigh, and covering her face with her hands, sank
back upon the bench.
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