Helen , this was begun in jest , -- it ends in solemn earnest , for I love my liberty , and I have lost it , utterly and forever . Yet I am glad ; look in my face and tell me you believe it . '' He spoke now as seriously as fervently , and with no shadow on her own , Helen brushed back the blond hair and looked into her lover 's face . Truth , tenderness , power , and candor were written there in characters that could not lie ; and with her heart upon her lips , she answered , as he drew her close , -- `` I do believe , do love you , Sigismund ! '' Meanwhile another scene was passing in the garden . Sidney , presuming upon his cousinship , took possession of Amy , bidding her `` strike but hear him . '' Of course she listened with the usual accompaniment of tears and smiles , reproaches and exclamations , varied by cruel exultations and coquettish commands to go away and never dare approach her again . '' Ma drogha , listen and be appeased . Years ago you and I played together as babies , and our fond mammas vowed we should one day mate . When I was a youth of fourteen and you a mite of seven I went away to India with my father , and at our parting promised to come back and marry you . Being in a fret because you could n't go also , you haughtily declined the honor , and when I offered a farewell kiss , struck me with this very little hand . Do you remember it ? '' `` Not I. Too young for such nonsense . '' `` I do , and I also remember that in my boyish way I resolved to keep my word sooner or later , and I 've done it . '' `` We shall see , sir , '' cried Amy , strongly tempted to repeat her part of the childish scene as well as her cousin , but her hand was not free , and he got the kiss without the blow . `` For eleven years we never met . You forgot me , and ` Cousin Sidney ' remained an empty name . I was in India till four years ago ; since then I 've been flying about Germany and fighting in Poland , where I nearly got my quietus . '' `` My dear boy , were you wounded ? '' `` Bless you , yes ; and very proud of it I am .
I 'll show you my scars some XXXXX ; but never mind that now .
Amy Germany India Poland Sidney Sigismund cousinship day drogha exultations