The women could n't understand it . They wondered at Alec 's infatuation for her . I never did . I -- I loved her , too , master , before I had known her a day . Nobody ever knew it . Mercedes never dreamed of it . But it 's lasted me all my life . I never wanted to think of any other woman . She spoiled a man for any other kind of woman -- that little pale , dark-eyed Spanish girl . To love her was like drinking some rare sparkling wine . You 'd never again have any taste for a commoner draught . `` I think she was very happy the year she spent here . Our thrifty women-folk in Stillwater jeered at her because she was n't what they called capable . They said she could n't do anything . But she could do one thing well -- she could love . She worshipped Alec . I used to hate him for it . Oh , my heart has been very full of black thoughts in its time , master . But neither Alec nor Mercedes ever knew . And I 'm thankful now that they were so happy .
Alec made this arbour for Mercedes -- XXXXX least he made the trellis , and she planted the vines .
Spanish Stillwater To at before for in like of that