“And are you not sorry that you—you—kissed me?� she faltered at last.
“No,� I answered bluntly enough—being a plain man I have always felt compelled to tell the truth—except perhaps when her interests were at stake—“I am not sorry,�—but as she swiftly tried to draw her hand away I added, “I promise you I won’t do it again, and you will forgive me, I know. Meanwhile, we have much to plan, we may be interrupted any time, and we had best get at it.�
I released her hand and she faced me calmly enough.
“You don’t know how much safer I feel when I have you to depend upon,� she said.
How my heart leaped at that assurance for I saw by it that she had indeed forgiven me.
“I shall leave everything to you, Master Hampdon,� she continued. “Do you tell me what to do and I will do it.�
“I know you will. I could not ask a braver, better second,� I answered heartily.
At that moment I heard a step on the ladder. Somebody was coming. Quick as a flash I realized the part we had to play in public. I balled my fist and struck the bulkhead savagely. I suppose I must have changed my expression as well for in her surprise, she screamed faintly.
“That’s it,� I whispered, “cry out again, but louder, louder.�
“What do you mean?� she asked hurriedly, with uncomprehending amazement—in this crisis my wits working quicker than hers.