The facts are true , but he doubtless glorified the simplest by his way of telling it . Will you forgive my follies , and believe me when I promise to play and duel no more ? '' `` Yes . '' She yielded her hand now , and her eyes were full of happiness , yet she added , wistfully , -- `` And the betrothed , your cousin , Minna , -- is she , in truth , not dear to you ? '' `` Very dear , but less so than another ; for I could not learn of her in years what I learned in a day when I met you . 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 XXXXX we never met .
Amy Helen Minna Sidney Sigismund cousinship drogha duel exultations years