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PRINCESS AND MICROBE
be my queen. You are a princess, I know, but then I am a prince."
Olivera Rinalda Victorine was silent a long time, kneeling on the moss.
"Are you angry?" asked the Knight, at length.
"No," said the Princess, in a whisper. "I think I like it." Then he smiled up at her, but did not even touch her hand.
"Tell me truly," said the Princess, "don't you mind my climbing trees and doing all those things?"
"Not a bit."
"Nor the device on my shield?"
He laughed and shook his head.
"Nor my wanting to go on a quest, and do all those unfeminine things?"
"Victorine," said the Knight, "it is the
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