"They are not half so beautiful as you are," said the young peasant;
"everybody likes you."
"You are very kind, I am sure," said Agnes. "I like everybody, as far as
grandmamma thinks it best."
"I am glad of that," said Antonio, "because then I hope you will like
me."
"Oh, yes, certainly, I do; grandmamma says you are very good, and I like
all good people."
"Well, then, pretty Agnes," said the young man, "let me carry your
basket."
"Oh, you don't need to; it does not tire me."
"But I should like to do something for you," insisted the young man,
blushing deeply.
"Well, you may, then," said Agnes, who began to wonder at the length
of time her grandmother allowed this conversation to go on without
interrupting it, as she generally had done when a young man was in the
case. Quite to her astonishment, her venerable relative, instead of
sticking as close to her as her shadow, was walking forward very fast
without looking behind.
"Now, Holy Mother," said that excellent matron, "do help this young man
to bring this affair out straight, and give an old woman, who has had a
world of troubles, a little peace in her old age!"
Agnes found herself, therefore, quite unusually situated, alone in the
company of a handsome young man, and apparently with the consent of her
grandmother.
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