'Oh! never,' she cried, 'could I think of enshrining
An image whose looks are so joyless and dim--
But yon little god (Cupid) upon roses reclining,
We'll make, if you please, sir, a Friendship of him.'
So the bargain was struck; with the little god laden
She joyfully flew to her shrine in the grove:
'Farewell,' said the sculptor, 'you're not the first maiden
Who came but for Friendship and took away--Love.'"
She played the refrain softly after she had finished the song.
Gradually the last note died away.
Jerry looked at her in amazement.
"Where in the world did you learn that?"
"Me father taught it to me," replied Peg simply. "Tom Moore's one of
me father's prayer-books."
Jerry repeated as though to himself:
"'Who came but for FRIENDSHIP and took away LOVE!'"
"Isn't that beautiful?" And Peg's face had a rapt expression as she
looked up at Jerry.
"Do you believe it?" he asked.
"Didn't Tom Moore write it?" she answered.
"Is there anything BETTER than Friendship between man and woman?"
She nodded:
"Indeed there is. Me father felt it for me mother or I wouldn't be
here now. Me father loved me mother with all his strength and all
his soul."
"Could YOU ever feel it?" he asked, and there was an anxious look in
his eyes as he waited for her to answer.
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