"That misfortune, then, would be to fall in love with you."
"Happily that is not within the limits of probability," I answered,
beginning to be a little amused. "But why?"
"Lightning often strikes where it is least expected," she replied archly.
"Listen. If a young woman were unlucky enough to lose her heart to you,
she might do everything but tell you, and you would never know it. I
scarcely believe you would know it if she did tell you."
I must have jumped unconsciously.
"Oh, you needn't think I am in love with you."
"Not for a minute," I made haste to say.
She pointed towards the timber-covered hills beyond the shore.
"Do you see that stream which comes foaming down the notch into the lake
in front of us?" she asked. "Let us suppose that you lived in a cabin
beside that brook; and that once in a while, when you went out to draw
your water, you saw a nugget of--gold washing along with the pebbles on
the bed. How many days do you think you would be in coming to the
conclusion that there was a pocket of gold somewhere above you, and in
starting in search of it?"
"Not long, surely."
"Ah, you are not lacking in perception there. But if I were to tell you
that I knew of the existence of such a mine, from various proofs I have
had, and that the mine was in the possession of a certain person who was
quite willing to share it with you on application, you would not believe
me.
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