He fell back in utter amazement, but she advanced upon him swiftly. “Was it that?” she cried.
The unfortunate young man could make no reply, and remained unable to defend himself from her inexplicable attack.
“You have not forgotten,” she went on, impetuously. “It was in the crowd, just before they gave you the flag. You saw—I know you saw—and it killed me with the shame of it! Now you come to me to look at the same thing again—and the boat waiting for you! Is it in revenge for that night at the Bareauds'? Perhaps this sounds wild to you—I can't help that—but why should you try to make it harder for me?”
From the porch came a strong voice: “Vanrevel!”
“God knows I haven't meant to,” said Tom, in bitter pain. “I don't understand. It's Cummings calling for me; I'll go at once. I'd hoped, stupidly enough, that you would tell me whom it was you meant when you spoke to Crailey, so that I could help to make it surer that he'd come back to you. But I've only annoyed you. And you were here—away from the house——avoiding me, and fearing that I—”
“Vanrevel!” shouted William. (Mrs. Tanberry had not told Lieutenant Cummings where to find Miss Betty.)
“Fearing? Yes?”
“Fearing that I might discover you.” He let his eyes rest on her loveliness once more, and as he saw that she still trembled, he extended his hand toward her in a gesture of infinite gentleness, like a blessing, heaved one great sigh, and, with head erect and body straight, set his face manfully toward the house.
He had taken three strides when his heart stopped beating at an ineffable touch on his sleeve. For, with a sharp cry, she sprang to him; and then, once more, among the lilac bushes where he had caught the white kitten, his hand was seized and held between two small palms, and the eyes of Miss Betty Carewe looked into the very soul of him.
“No!” she cried. “No! Fearing with a sick heart that you might not come!”