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The little gardener, filled with curiosity, raised her blue eyes

and seemed to scrutinise him, for a thousand steps away the house

was in plain sight, and the Count was asking the way! But the

Count needs must say something to her, and was seeking an excuse

for conversation.

"Do you live here? near the garden? or in the village? How

happens it that I have not seen you at the mansion? Have you come

recently? Perhaps you are a visitor?"

The girl shook her head.

"Pardon me, my little lady, but is not that your room, where we

see the window?"

"If she is not a heroine of romance," he was thinking to himself,

"she is a young and fresh and very pretty girl. Very often a

great soul, a great thought, hidden in solitude, blooms like the

rose in the midst of the forest; it will be sufficient to bring

it forth to the light, and put it before the sun, to have it

amaze by a thousand bright colours those who gaze upon it!"