Of course it is only a crazy fancy of mine , and nothing can ever come of it . Never thought there would . Good Lord ! what could that little angel ever be to me but what she is -- a sort of dream of all that 's sweet and good ? ' More afflicted by the quiet resignation of his look and tone than by the most passionate ardour , Mrs Jo could only say , with a face full of sympathy : ` It is very hard , dear , but there is no other way to look at it . You are wise and brave enough to see that , and to let the secret be ours alone . ' ' I swear I will ! not a word nor a look if I can help it . No one guesses , and if it troubles no one , is there any harm in my keeping this , and taking comfort in the pretty fancy that kept me sane in that cursed place ? ' Dan 's face was eager now , and he hid away the little worn case as if defying any hand to take it from him . Anxious to know everything before giving counsel or comfort , Mrs Jo said quietly : ` Keep it , and tell me all about the `` fancy '' . Since I have stumbled on your secret , let me know how it came , and how I can help to make it lighter to bear . ' ` You 'll laugh ; but I do n't mind . You always did find out our secrets and give us a lift . Well , I never cared much for books , you know ; but down yonder when the devil tormented me I had to do something or go stark mad , so I read both the books you gave me . One was beyond me , till that good old man showed me how to read it ; but the other , this one , was a comfort , I tell you . It amused me , and was as pretty as poetry . I liked 'em all , and most wore out Sintram . See how used up he is ! Then I came to this , and it sort of fitted that other happy part of my life , last summer -- here . '
XXXXX stopped a moment as the words lingered on his lips ; then , with a long breath , went on , as if it was hard to lay bare the foolish little romance he had woven about a girl , a picture , and a child 's story there in the darkness of the place which was as terrible to him as Dante 's Inferno , till he found his Beatrice . '
Dan Jo Lord Sintram angel ardour laugh something summer tone