But she was silent, her face turned from me; at last she said, "It is all so strange, Jack; those we love, love us not, and those we do not love want to marry us even if they are not fit to."
"Not fit to hold your shoe, let alone your heart," I added angrily.
She put her hand over my mouth.
"Have I done wrong? Have I said too much? Come, I must go. I see the Colonel waiting for me."
I took her by both hands, holding her before me, for I was strangely worried and I wished to know—I looked earnestly into her eyes.
"Do you love me, Elsie?"
She blushed crimson. In an instant her arms were around my neck.
Shamed and stricken with my own thoughtlessness I tore her arms from me.
"Elsie, forgive me, you don't understand!"
In reply she gave me one shamed, hurt look and fled up the path. I saw Goff waiting for her.