Australian Tales - Setis

All those scenes and objects were dear to me, and I thought as it might be
long before I saw them again, I would indulge my fancy with a good
long revel among them. One lovely afternoon, I remember it well, I was
slowly walking along the margin of the brook, thinking of the merry days
of childhood, when who should I see under a willow tree by the identical
place where fourteen years before I had raised the sunken shoe, who but
my darling Nanny. Yes, there she sat with a water-lily in her hand gazing
at the brook, perhaps admiring her own beautiful image. There never was
anything like lackadaisical sentiment about Nanny Roseley; so, strange
as it seems, she had not gone there on purpose to meet me; not at all, sir,
she had too much modesty for that. She has since told me with her own
truthful lips, that she did not know why she went there on that identical
afternoon, but we understand it now, sir; her going there was not mere
chance. However, there she sat, looking as graceful and modest as the
lily in her hand; and I must necessarily have passed by the place unless I
had turned round and walked back, which would have looked very
unmannerly if she had happened to turn her head and see me. So onward
I went — timidly enough you may be sure — and when I came up to the
spot where she sat, I felt as though I had been electrified; my heart
actually leaped up to my throat, and forced my tongue to say, ‘Nanny!’
she turned round quickly, and, oh, sir! the sight of that beautiful blushing
face would have knocked a cannibal down on his knees, or melted a Turk
into tenderness. Of course I had not premeditated my address, how could
I do so, when I had had no idea of seeing her? I rushed instinctively up to
her and seized her lily white hand, and my heart spoke again right plump
out, ‘Nanny, I love you!’ That is all I said, all I could say in fact, but that
was enough, and I saw in a moment that Nanny loved me, though she did
not speak a word. Oh, what a rush of rapture coursed all through me at
that happy discovery! Never shall I forget it. It is a wonder I did not clasp
her to my heart and kiss her luscious lips. It is fortunate too that I did not
do it, for it might have frightened her, and — but I see you are getting
excited, Mr. Boomerang, and so I will hurry past this touching part of my
story. We sat beneath the willow tree for an hour or more, and Nanny
lisped out the innocent confession, ‘that she had loved me ever since the
day when I restored her lost shoe to her.’ Was not that very wonderful,
sir? Of course I did not commit a second blunder by asking for her hand
there and then, for I felt sure she would not give me any promise without
the cognizance of her father, and I knew, too, that it would be wrong to
press her for it. I merely asked her to reserve her heart for me, subject to
her father's approval, which she promised to do, and then an interchange
of lovers' vows took place which I sealed with a kiss; the first kiss I had
ever impressed on a maiden's lips, and oh, sir, it was — but I beg pardon,
I see I am exciting you again; I am afraid you are losing patience at my
soft descriptions.