Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/329

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“I prize this more than aught else I received!” she said softly.

Then in came Jan, brave in wedding finery, to have a last intimate view of his Jacqueline. Round and round her he walked, speechless with admiration, and could only  smile and chuckle, and rub his hands, and  stroke her dainty garments with half-shy,  half-reverent touches. Last of all came her father in his scholarly robes of the University, and took her in his arms for a final  caress.

“Thou art sweet and fair, my darling!” he whispered. “Be as good a wife to Pieter as thou hast been ever a daughter to me,  and Heaven itself could ask no more! But come! the Prince and his suite have arrived, the guests are all assembled, and thy future  husband waits to claim thee!”