`` No , we are not poetical , like your people , but it is a pretty fancy , '' and Amy settled her bouquet with an absorbed expression , though inwardly wondering what he would do with his flowers . He stood silent a moment , with a sudden flush sweeping across his face , then flung all three into the lake with a gesture that made the girl start , and muttered between his teeth : `` No , no ; for me it is too late . '' She affected not to hear , but making up a second bouquet , she gave it to him , with no touch of coquetry in compassionate eyes or gentle voice . `` Make your room bright with these . When one is ill nothing is so cheering as the sight of flowers . '' Meantime the others had descended and gone their separate ways . As Karl crossed the courtyard a little child ran to meet him with outstretched arms and a shout of satisfaction . He caught it up and carried it away on his shoulder , like one used to caress and be caressed by children . Helen , waiting at the door of the tower while the major dusted his coat , saw this , and said , suddenly , directing his attention to man and child , -- `` He seems fond of little people . I wonder if he has any of his own . '' `` Hoffman ? No , my dear ; he 's not married ; I asked him that when I engaged him . '' `` And he said he was not ? '' `` Yes ; he 's not more than five or six-and-twenty , and fond of a wandering life , so what should he want of a wife and a flock of bantlings ? '' `` He seems sad and sober sometimes , and I fancied he might have some domestic trouble to harass him . Do n't you think there is something peculiar about him ? '' asked Helen , remembering Hoffman 's hint that her uncle knew his wish to travel incognito , and wondering if he would throw any light upon the matter . But the major 's face was impenetrable and his answer unsatisfactory . `` Well , I do n't know . Every one has some worry or other , and as for being peculiar , all foreigners seem more or less so to us , they are so unreserved and demonstrative .
I like XXXXX more and more every day , and shall be sorry when I part with him . ''
Amy Helen Hoffman Karl arms bantlings coquetry others second something