"At whose command?" demanded the woman, drawing herself up proudly.
"At mine," returned Hunston, who was fast losing his temper.
"What, you dare!" ejaculated the girl, with flashing eyes.
"Dare!" laughed Hunston. "Will you go away and leave the boys alone, or must I carry you away?"
The girl's colour forsook her cheek, and she drew nearer to Hunston, and the latter, startled at her expression, drew back.
"These unhappy boys are doomed to die at daybreak," she said, "but if you stay a moment longer to molest me or annoy them, I will summon the men and tell them that you would insult me and murder them."
"It is false."
"I know it," replied the woman, fiercely, "but do you suppose I would hesitate at that? And what would your life be worth?—what, I ask? Why, they would wait for no explanation; your presence here would be sufficient; they would tear you asunder. Begone, craven blackheart. Go."
Hunston muttered something indistinctly, but he bent his head before the storm of this fierce woman's wrath and slunk away.
She turned to the boys.