Mounting, he leaned from the saddle and took both her hands in his—still he did not kiss her.
"Jessica, you believe I am innocent?" he asked anxiously.
"Yes—yes!"
"Will you believe what I am doing is for the best?"
"Always, always!" she whispered, her voice vibrating. "Only go!"
"Whatever happens?"
"Whatever happens!"
He released her hands and rode quickly up the grassy path.
As she stood looking after him, a dog's whine came from the cabin. She ran and released the spaniel and took him up in her arms.
As she did so a sparkle caught her eye. It came from the tiny gold cross lying where Hugh had flung it, near the lighted doorway. She picked it up, looked at it a moment abstractedly and thrust it into her pocket—scarce consciously, for her heart was keeping time to the silenced hoof-beat that was bearing the man she loved from danger.