Her whole aspect spoke of the hardships and exposures of the hunted and battling life she led by the side of the guerrilla chief.
Yet one saw, in contemplating this change, that it was, at worst, beauty impaired and not destroyed, and that a few months of quiet happiness might restore it in all its pristine splendor.
“Oh, how much you seem to want repose! Stay with me and rest, oh, poor, storm-beaten friend!” murmured Erminie, gently caressing her visitor.
“I knew that you were humane and tender-hearted, Erminie, and I felt encouraged to come to you—to you of all the world—in the hour of my distress.”
“And you have not trusted in vain. I will do everything in my power to serve you, Alberta. Everything, I mean, not incompatible with the service of our country, and of course you would not wish me to compromise my duty to her, for you have taken the oath of allegiance.”
“Yes, I have taken the oath of allegiance. I should not have been here else,” replied Alberta, in a tone that grated unpleasantly upon the nerves of her hostess.
“Then it was a compulsory oath,” put in Elfie, very dryly.
“It was a compulsory oath in so far as this: that I should not have been allowed to cross your lines without having first taken it.”
“‘Your lines?’ Why do you not say our lines, since you have taken the oath, and are one of us?” inquired Elfie.
“I spoke from the force of habit, that is all,” answered Alberta.