Baroness Orczy

“ Ilonka could not understand. Her mother who was so proud, seemed to look on the mésalliance with content, while scorning the idea of a penniless husband, even if he have a long line of ancestry. The child had soon told her long-cherished secret, had candidly admitted the thrills of delight which one voice among all others, had called forth in her young heart. She was an only child, had been much loved and petted. It seemed terrible she should have to live in a peasant’s cottage, learn to spin and dig in the garden, become no better than one of her maids, and cut off from all her friends. ”

“ The old peasant woman’s heart, which had already gone out to the fragile, girlish figure on the bed, quite melted at this sweet appeal. Her arms closed round the delicate young girl, the golden head rested on the old motherly breast, and on it there fell such a shower of kisses and such words of love and sympathy, as Ilonka had never heard from her own mother’s lips.
“Now, my sweet one, you feel better do you not? Lie still for a while, and rest, you are tired and excited. ”

“ Then, a last picture floated before her mind, a picture, the reality of which in itself seemed as a dream: a picture of many faces floating round her, and in front the tiny village, with its thatched cottages, under the glare of a glorious May day sun: the air hot and heavy with the fragrance of early opening blossoms, and filled with sounds of bees and birds, neighing of colts and bleating of lambs. ”