And pulling Hugh after her, away she went down the rocky path,
with a step too light to care for the stones; the little feet
capering down the mountain with a disdain of the ground that
made Hugh smile to see her; and eyes dancing for company, till
they reached the lower woodland.

"A most spirited waltz!" said Hugh.

"And a most slack partner. Why didn't you keep me company?"

"I never was made for waltzing," said Hugh, shaking his head.

"Not to the tune of the north wind? That has done me good,
Hugh."

"So I should judge, by your cheeks."

"Poverty need not always make people poor," said Fleda,
talking breath and his arm together. "You and I are rich,
Hugh."

"And our riches cannot take to themselves wings and fly away,"
said Hugh.

"No, but besides those riches, there are the pleasures of the
eye and the mind, that one may enjoy everywhere — everywhere
in the country at least — unless poverty bear one down very
hard; and they are some of the purest and most satisfying of
any. Oh, the blessing of a good education! how it makes one