“Be kind to you,” she repeated, as if not understanding what he said, nor the look in his eyes.
“For I am a prisoner, too.”
“A prisoner?” she rejoined a little tremulously, and coldly.
“In your hands, Marie.” His eyes laid bare his heart.
“Oh!” she replied, in a half-troubled, half-indignant tone, for she was out of touch with the occasion of his suit, and every woman has in her mind the time when she should and when she should not be wooed. “Oh, why aren’t you plain with me? I hate enigmas.”
“Why do I not speak plainly? Because, because, Marie, it is possible for a man to be a coward in his speech”—he touched her fingers—“when he loves.” She quickly drew her hand from his. “Oh, can’t we be friends without that?”
There was a sound of footsteps at the window. Both turned, and saw the political prisoner, Rive Laflamme, followed by a guard.
“He comes to finish my portrait,” she said. “This is the last sitting.”
“Marie, must I go like this? When may I see you again? When will you answer me? You will not make all the hopes to end here?”
It was evident that some deep trouble was on the girl. She flushed hotly, as if she were about to reply hotly also, but she changed quickly, and said, not unkindly: “When M. Laflamme has gone.” And now, as if repenting of her unreasonable words of a moment before, she added: “Oh, please don’t think me hard. I am sorry that I grieve you. I’m afraid I am not altogether well, not altogether happy.”