candy.
He said that was quite good, and, soon, others had to try. No one
felt it was as good as had been expected, since the pumpkin was so big and
pretty. Alexander was sure there would be something good found for them
and said he would still keep growing them.
The leaves were turning brown and gold, and Louise knew her
parents would be coming to take her home soon. She was excited, but, at
the same time, she was very frightened. She knew how her father viewed
Alexander, but she also knew her mother's feelings. She hoped, somehow,
she and her mother could influence her father to approve of Alexander.
She had often written letters to her parents. She tried to tell all she
dared about Alexander without upsetting her father. She shared good things
he did for her and the people, and how much the people loved him. She
wrote of his interest in new plants and how he would share them with his
people. She was concerned that her father would think Alexander was
strange, for, in a way, he was. He was different from any man she knew,
but in a good way. She could see he was much like his parents, yet he
exhibited his own interests.
As the day approached for her parents to arrive, a big fall feast was
planned. Alexander seemed nervous. She tried more than once to visit with
him about her feelings, but it was as if he was sure of what would happen
and didn't want to talk about it. She was afraid his trepidation would cause
things to go wrong. One thing she knew, she had made up her mind, and
nothing could change it. Somehow it had to work out.
The day finally arrived. She hurried to meet her parents. She
hugged and kissed them. Alexander stood with his parents, and they all
bowed. The king spoke coolly, but politely to Alexander. "I see you have
taken good care of my daughter."
Alexander's voice quivered. "I've tried, Your Majesty."
Louise walked with her parents to their quarters. She looked back at
Alexander. The quiver in his voice was not fear; it seemed more like
sadness. She had spent so much time with him that she could sense his
every emotion.
Louise visited with her father as they walked, and Lady Margaret
visited with the queen. Louise had so much she wanted to tell them - so
much she wanted them to know.
Her father smiled. He seemed pleased at her pleasantness.
"Louise," he said, "I think this little vacation has done wonders for you.
You look healthy and happy."
"Oh, I am, Father. More than you could ever imagine."
She had no sooner said it than her father turned back and looked at
Alexander, who was directing the care of the horses and the luggage.
"I see," he said. "I'm glad you enjoyed it here."
The banquet that night was wonderful. The corn sticks were the last
of the season and, though not as good as some earlier, the king and queen
seemed impressed. As Louise expressed Alexander's desire to bring in new
things, she was careful not to mention the Esconodians, for fear of stirring
up her father's distrust in them. She mentioned the corn, potatoes, and
strawberries.
The king finished his fifth corn stick, turned to Alexander, and
spoke stiffly. "My compliments, young man."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Alexander replied. They were the only
words Alexander spoke during the whole meal.
When the banquet was coming to a close, Louise turned to her
father. "Father, would you be willing to go for a special ride with
Alexander and me tomorrow?"
Alexander stiffened and looked at her. His eyes showed his concern.
She had not asked him about this, for she knew he would have tried to talk
her out of it.
"What
He said that was quite good, and, soon, others had to try. No one
felt it was as good as had been expected, since the pumpkin was so big and
pretty. Alexander was sure there would be something good found for them
and said he would still keep growing them.
The leaves were turning brown and gold, and Louise knew her
parents would be coming to take her home soon. She was excited, but, at
the same time, she was very frightened. She knew how her father viewed
Alexander, but she also knew her mother's feelings. She hoped, somehow,
she and her mother could influence her father to approve of Alexander.
She had often written letters to her parents. She tried to tell all she
dared about Alexander without upsetting her father. She shared good things
he did for her and the people, and how much the people loved him. She
wrote of his interest in new plants and how he would share them with his
people. She was concerned that her father would think Alexander was
strange, for, in a way, he was. He was different from any man she knew,
but in a good way. She could see he was much like his parents, yet he
exhibited his own interests.
As the day approached for her parents to arrive, a big fall feast was
planned. Alexander seemed nervous. She tried more than once to visit with
him about her feelings, but it was as if he was sure of what would happen
and didn't want to talk about it. She was afraid his trepidation would cause
things to go wrong. One thing she knew, she had made up her mind, and
nothing could change it. Somehow it had to work out.
The day finally arrived. She hurried to meet her parents. She
hugged and kissed them. Alexander stood with his parents, and they all
bowed. The king spoke coolly, but politely to Alexander. "I see you have
taken good care of my daughter."
Alexander's voice quivered. "I've tried, Your Majesty."
Louise walked with her parents to their quarters. She looked back at
Alexander. The quiver in his voice was not fear; it seemed more like
sadness. She had spent so much time with him that she could sense his
every emotion.
Louise visited with her father as they walked, and Lady Margaret
visited with the queen. Louise had so much she wanted to tell them - so
much she wanted them to know.
Her father smiled. He seemed pleased at her pleasantness.
"Louise," he said, "I think this little vacation has done wonders for you.
You look healthy and happy."
"Oh, I am, Father. More than you could ever imagine."
She had no sooner said it than her father turned back and looked at
Alexander, who was directing the care of the horses and the luggage.
"I see," he said. "I'm glad you enjoyed it here."
The banquet that night was wonderful. The corn sticks were the last
of the season and, though not as good as some earlier, the king and queen
seemed impressed. As Louise expressed Alexander's desire to bring in new
things, she was careful not to mention the Esconodians, for fear of stirring
up her father's distrust in them. She mentioned the corn, potatoes, and
strawberries.
The king finished his fifth corn stick, turned to Alexander, and
spoke stiffly. "My compliments, young man."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Alexander replied. They were the only
words Alexander spoke during the whole meal.
When the banquet was coming to a close, Louise turned to her
father. "Father, would you be willing to go for a special ride with
Alexander and me tomorrow?"
Alexander stiffened and looked at her. His eyes showed his concern.
She had not asked him about this, for she knew he would have tried to talk
her out of it.
"What
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