Esther, A Sonnet Sequence: Xxxv

``Silence. I will not listen!'' ``And for what?'' She added strangely, in a softer mood. ``You see I am not angry. Do you not? Only soft--hearted, and alas! too good. Why did you follow me?'' She took my hand With a sudden action so devoid of guile That I, who could not choose but understand, Was softened too and fooled into a smile. ``Why did you follow me? Here, feel,'' she said, ``How my heart beats. It frightens me to find So much of cunning in so young a head, So young a heart,--and mine which is not blind!'' She pressed my hand to her side. In truth, her heart Was beating there, my own heart's counterpart.