He took no notice of her words, but pressed her to him eagerly.
'You will never desert me, Marie mine? You will be faithful to me always?'
'Of course,' she replied petulantly. 'At least so long as you are faithful to me—and country,' she added, as an afterthought.
He started wildly, all his worst fears aroused. 'What has that to do with us? If I am true to you, why think about country?'
The small patriot became infected by his strange mood. 'It is the true man's first thought. Home and country must always go together.'
'Pshaw! What has it done for us? If it is to a man's interests to go against his people, let him do so.'
He was almost startled at the horror on her face. 'Fight against your own land, against your own people! Do you mean that?'
'Why not?' he said huskily.
'It is the vilest thing a man can do,' she cried hotly. 'Look at the Rebellion that is just over. Don't you think with me that the traitor they call the White Chief is an evil spirit, and not man at all?'
The next instant she had approached him with solicitude, for his face was ghastly. 'Why, what is it, Hugh? You are not well.'