"For my sake?" I cried in dismay. "Heaven forfend!"
"Does Herr——"
"Jack," said I.
"Does Herr Jack think," her eyes narrowing till naught but a line of their beautiful blue-green could be seen, "that one of those would dare take a liberty with me?"
"I hope he will not. I should have the unpleasant duty of punching his head." If I could not kiss Gretchen nobody else should.
"You are very strong."
"Yes; and there are some things which add threefold to a man's strength."
"Such as ——" She looked at me daringly.
"Yes, such as ——" Her eyes fell before my glance, A delicate veil of rose covered her face for a moment. I wondered if she knew that it was only because I clinched my fists till the nails cut, that I did not do the very thing I feared the stragglers coming down the road might do. "Come," said I, peremptorily; "there is no need of your welcoming them here."
So we entered the inn; and she began furbishing up the utensils, just to tease me more than anything else.