"But we were betrothed in infancy," he defended gaily.
"Yaes," she said meekly; "I got do what you as' me—I got. But—"
"You don't like it?"
She did not answer, and he audaciously kissed her. She only trembled a little this time—and remained in his arms.
"That's better. At first—"
"Ah! but I din' know. I din' know how that was sweet. I naever been—kiss—nor— How you call that other?"
"Embraced."
"Yaes. I naever been kiss nor embrace by nobody. Now thing 'bout that! How I going know how that is nize? How you also know—aexcep' you learn?—Ah—ah—ah! How do you learn those? An' where?" She shook her finger at him. She meant him to think it roguery; but her heart sank dizzily. "You been betroth with—with—another?"
He did not answer. He was looking down at her very fondly.
"Alas an' alas! Those purple-eye Americans! How they are beautiful! How beautiful! They frighten me! All purple, pink, an' yellow!"
