"I love you very much." He meant only to say "I like you very much," but in southern lands the linguistic distinction does not exist.
"Don't say things like that, you devil," she cried, "especially if you do not mean it. Yes, say it even if you do not mean it; I love to hear you saying it. But be very careful. We are not like heathen women."
"Normano, did you treat all other girls like this in England, and do you think I allow other men...."
"It will be quite different," faltered Norman.
Norman could not conceal a little yawn in his voice even at the moment of making this startling declaration; his eyes were heavy with light and he had walked for many hours. The girl perceived at once.
"Why, you are quite tired!" she said, "and talking fearful nonsense. You must come and find a room at once. Have you been walking long?"
"You curious person, to go walking in the night. Where have you come from?"
"From Braxea. I had my supper in the inn last night, and I've been walking ever since."
"What a pace you must have put on! Why, it's ever such a way away. Braxea? Why, it's right over the mountains on the frontier. Those long legs!" she added, pointing to them with a laugh. "No wonder they go far. I have never seen such long legs, except on a grass-hopper. And now you will walk into Alsander. But you have not yet answered my question. Where are you going to stay in our city?"
"I don't know a bit, beautiful girl, as I told you. Perhaps you can find me a place, not far away from you."
"Ah, perhaps I might," said she, "and perhaps I might not. I do not think you would be an agreeable neighbour."
"Ah, why not? Should I trouble and annoy you?"
"You have no idea how to behave, none at all," murmured Peronella.
"Oh, I will learn," cried the boy, "if you will teach me."
"And you will promise never, never again to squeeze my breath out in that awful manner?"
"Faithfully I will promise everything you ask."
"Why, then," said Peronella, rising up, with her eyes sparkling, "you had better come and live with my mother and me. We have a little _pension_ and we want a lodger."
"What?" said Norman, not trusting himself to have understood.
"Come--and--live--with--my--mother-and--me, that is, if you like."
"O Peronella, I am afraid." And indeed the boy was really getting seriously frightened of this persistent maiden.