MRS. HAVERILL. [Apart.] I'm afraid I know what has happened. A quarrel! and you are to part with each other so soon. Do not let a girl's coquetry trifle with her heart until it is too late. You remember the confession you made to me last night?
GERTRUDE. [Apart.] Constance! [Starting.] That is my secret; more a secret now than ever.
MRS. HAVERILL. [Apart.] Yes, dear; but you do love him. [GERTRUDE moves away.
GERTRUDE. You need not ride over with me, Mr. West.
KERCHIVAL. I can be ready in one moment.
GERTRUDE. I choose to go alone! Old Pete will be with me; and Jack, himself, is a charming companion.
KERCHIVAL. If you prefer Jack's company to mine—
GERTRUDE. I do. [Exit on veranda and down right.
KERCHIVAL. Damn Jack! But you will let me assist you to mount. [Exit after her.
MRS. HAVERILL. We leave for the North before noon, but every hour seems a month. If my husband should learn what happened in my room to-night, he would kill that man. What encouragement could I have given him? Innocence is never on its guard—but, [Drawing up.] the last I remember before I fell unconscious, he was crouching before me like a whipped cur! [Starts as she looks out of the window.] There is Mr. Thornton now—Ah! [Angrily.] No,—I must control my own indignation. I must keep him and Colonel Haverill from meeting before we leave Charleston. Edward Thornton would shoot my husband down without remorse. But poor Frank! I must not forget him, in my own trouble. I have but little time left to care for his welfare.