"How can she help being happy ?" "She does seem happy, but she is lame, and her health is very delicate.
She cannot walk one step without crutches, on which she swings herself along very lightly and gracefully, it is true; but think you not she would not give all her wealth to be able to walk with your bounding steps, and have your elastic frame ?" "Crutches!" said I, sorrowfully, "why she looked as if she might have wings on her shoulders.

It _is_ sad." "She is not an object of pity.

You will not think she is when you know her.

I only wanted to convince you, that you might be an object of envy to one who seems so enviable to you." I would gladly have lingered where I was, within the sound of Richard Clyde's frank and cheerful voice, but I thought of poor Peggy thirsting for a cooling draught, and my conscience smote me for being a laggard in my duty.

It is true, the scene, which may seem long in description, passed in a very brief space of time, and though Richard said a good many things, he talked very fast, without seeming hurried either.
"I shall see you again at the spring," said he, as he turned from the gate.