“You’re wonderful!” she exclaimed. “Whatever one asks you’re able to do.”
“And you’re very staunch.”
“Oh!” she said, standing very close to him, with his hand still on her shoulder, “we won’t exchange compliments—they’re too empty, and you deserve something better.” She glanced round swiftly. “Shut your eyes, tight!”
He obeyed her, and for a moment light fingers rested on his breast; then there was a faint warm touch upon his cheek. When he looked up she was standing a yard away, smiling mockingly.
“Don’t trust your imagination too much—it might have deceived you,” she warned. “But you have sense; you wouldn’t attach an undue value to anything.”
“Confidence and gratitude are precious,” he answered. “I’d better point out that I haven’t earned either of them yet.”
Bella was satisfied with this, but she grew graver, wondering how far she might have delivered Gladwyne into his hands. She was angry with the man, but she would not have him suffer.
“I don’t know what power you have—but you won’t make too much use of it—I don’t wish that,” she begged. “After all, though, Jim must be got out of that fellow’s clutches.”
“Yes,” assented Lisle, “there’s no doubt of it.”
She left him presently and he went on down the dale, not exactly repenting of his promise, but regretting the necessity which had led to his making it. The task with which he had saddled himself was an exceedingly unpleasant one and might afterward make it more difficult for him to accomplish the purpose that had brought him to England, but he meant to carry it out.