The judge had already started to lead the way back. But Hollis, who was behind, touched Paul’s arm. “I say, don’t confound her too much, Paul,” he said, in a low tone. “She is a remarkably clever girl. And she thinks a lot of you.”
“Sorry for her, then,” answered Paul, going out. As Hollis still kept up with him, he added, “How do you know she does?”
“Because I like her myself,” answered Hollis, bravely. “When you’re that way, you know, you can always tell.”
He fell behind. Paul went on alone.
When he reached the camp-fire, Cicely looked up. “Oh, you’ve come!”
“Yes.”
“There are two of us now. Eve is on my side.”
“So I have heard.” He went to Eve, took her arm, and led her away almost by force to the shadow at some distance from the fire. “What in the world has made you change so?” he said. “Do you know—it’s abject.”
“Yes, it’s abject,” Eve answered. She could see him looking at her in the dusky darkness; she had never been looked at in such a way before. “It’s brave, too,” she added, trying to keep back the tears.