"I thought once it was secure from invasions," he said, looking at me suspiciously, "but since there are traitors within my own walls I must prepare for anything."
He spoke as if he intended to make trouble about the matter, and, since I had no fit reply, I said nothing. We descended into the valley, and when we crossed the drawbridge we met Grace Hetherill standing at the door. She expressed no surprise, but looked at me reproachfully. I felt that she wronged me, for certainly I had tried to escape.
I was sent to a new room, much like the other, but with a heavier door. The window, well cross-barred, looked out, like all the other windows, upon the mountains. When I had been locked up an hour Miss Hetherill came.
"You see I am back, Miss Hetherill," I said, jauntily. "Who comes oftener than I?"
"Why did you not escape when I gave you the chance?" she said, with the utmost reproach in her voice.
I felt hurt at her manner. I knew she was thinking less of my death than of her father's responsibility for it. I hold myself to be of some value, and did not wish to be cheapened in any such manner.
"I did my best to escape, Miss Hetherill," I said, "but the activity of the Confederate army was too great for me."
Her eyes flashed with such anger that I saw my mistake at once.
"I beg your pardon," I said. "I will not jest again at the colonel's faith."
"I have come to tell you," she said, "that you are in as much danger as you were yesterday. I do not think my father will alter his sentence."