"Gone for a drive, and all the other ladies with her; Mr. Dinsmore also. The last of the guests left an hour since, and we may chat for a good while without much fear of interruption."
"Suppose I don't choose," he returned, straightening himself with a defiant air.
"Harry, you must hear me!" she said, laying a detaining hand upon his arm, for he was moving toward the door.
"That's a strong word, and one you've no right to use to me," he answered moodily, yet yielding to her determined will.
She pointed to a chair, and he sat down.
"Speak and be done with it," he said.
Tears sprang to her eyes, but she forced them back.
"Are you mad, Harry, that you venture a return to this country?" she asked in an undertone, her voice trembling with excitement, "can you have forgotten the danger that hangs over you?"
"It's trifling, considering the changes five years have made," he said, with affected nonchalance; but his cheek paled.
"Don't deceive yourself, don't trust to that; I recognized you at the first glance," she said, with the earnestness of one determined to convince.