88 Golden Apples and Roses Red

shalt but call to have me by thee, and but
lift a finger to see me no more.”

“Why wouldst thou do this for me?”
asked Waldo, wondering at her persistency.

“« Ah, brother, I know thy selling and |
love thy songs.’

“And dost thou not shudder at this hor-
ror that is upon me, and dread lest the like
befall thee too?”

Then Dorothy laughed low and softly to

herself, and answered only so.

In this wise the maiden came to minister
to the poor recluse, and so gracious was she
and humble, so prudent and yet so tender,
that in his suffering she was great solace to
him, bringing his food from the boulder and
his drink from the brook, cleaning his cell
and freshening it with fragrant herbs; and
about the cell she made a garden of whole-
some plants and wild flowers, and all kindly
service that was within her power she did
for him.

So beautiful was she and of such exceed-
ing sweetness, that when his eyes rested
upon her, he questioned in his mind whether
she was a true woman and not an Angel sent