[CHAPTER XIII.]
He started. The words had almost the solemnity of a prophesy.
"Who will dare?" he said; then he laughed. "My little, fearsome, trembling darling!" he murmured, "fear nothing or rather, tell me what you fear, and whom."
She glanced toward the windows.
"I fear them all!" she said, quietly and simply.
"My father?"
She inclined her head and let her head fall upon his shoulder.
"The countess, all of them. Lord Leycester——"
He put his hand upon her lips softly.
"What was that I heard?" he said, with tender reproach.