Miss Bartram noticed the sinewy strength and
elasticity of his form, yet when she looked again at the ferns, she
shook her head, and answered:
"None, since I cannot have them."
Without saying a word, he took off his shoes, and commenced
climbing the nearly perpendicular face of the cliff. He had done
it before, many a time; but Miss Bartram, although she was familiar
with such exploits from the pages of many novels, had never seen
the reality, and it quite took away her breath.
When he descended with the ferns in his hand, she said: "It was a
great risk; I wish I had not wanted them."
"It was no risk for me," he answered.
"What can I send you in return?" she asked, as they walked
forwards. "I am going home to-morrow."
"Betty told me," Leonard said; "please, wait one minute."
He stepped down to the bank of the stream, washed his hands
carefully in the clear water, and came back to her, holding them,
dripping, at his sides.
"I am very ignorant," he then continued,--"ignorant and rough. You
are good, to want to send me something, but I want nothing.
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