"Nothing is wrong. I left her there."
"Shall I summon her?"
"Art afraid to speak to me, to a woman, alone, sir captain?"
"Nay, señorita, but 'tis unseemly——"
"Wouldst thou lesson me in manners, master soldier?" cried the girl haughtily.
"God forbid, lady, but thy father——"
"He laid no injunction upon me that I should not speak to you, sir. Is that forbidden?"
"Of course not, but——"
"But what, sir? It is your own weakness you fear? You were strong enough last night. Have you, by chance—repented?"
There was such a passionate eagerness in her voice, and such a leaping hope for an affirmative answer in the glance she bent upon him, that he could scarce sustain the shock of it. His whole soul had risen to meet hers, coming as she came. He trembled at her propinquity. The voice of the girl thrilled him as never before.