and, after all, it is not much trouble. We can afford to be polite," he added whimsically.
The rose-garden, with its lofty box hedge, lay close to the spot where the driveway came out of the woods.
"Listen," said Mrs. Dunbar.
A sound came faintly through the trees of the dactylic measure of a horse cantering, and a beautiful, deep voice raised in song. The sounds grew louder, and occasionally a word was distinguishable out of the notes of the song.
"What a voice!" said Mrs. Dunbar, and she listened raptly.
"And—the—⏑counselors
Of—and proud degree,
Said, 'Gracious king,⏑—⏑—,
Our gracious queen to be.'"
Of—and proud degree,
Said, 'Gracious king,⏑—⏑—,
Our gracious queen to be.'"
Then all the words came out clearly and pridefully.
"And now the king he looked about,
'And I will choose,' said he,
'The loveliest in all the world
To be my queen to me.'"
'And I will choose,' said he,
'The loveliest in all the world
To be my queen to me.'"