"
And then I told him where we had found the furniture, and how the
ornamental part thereof had been of my choosing.
"I don't know who the ladies are," I said, referring to the portraits. "I
only chose them for their pretty faces."
"Their lovers probably did the same, petite, a hundred years ago," replied
Monsieur Maurice. "And the clock--did you choose that also?"
"Yes; but the clock doesn't go."
"So much the better. I would that time might stand still also--till I am
free! till I am free!"
The tears rushed to my eyes. It was the tone more than the words that
touched my heart. He stooped and kissed me on the forehead.
"Come to the window, little one," said he, "and I will show you something
very beautiful. Do you know what this is?"
"A telescope!"
"No; a solar microscope. Now look down into this tube, and tell me what you
see. A piece of Persian carpet? No--a butterfly's wing magnified hundreds
and hundreds of times. And this which looks like an aigrette of jewels?
Will you believe that it is just the tiny plume which waves on the head of
every little gnat that buzzes round you on a Summer's evening?"
I uttered exclamation after exclamation of delight. Every fresh object
seemed more wonderful and beautiful than the last, and I felt as if I could
go on looking down that magic tube for ever.
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