"Speak to whom?" he inquired in turn. Then, noting the embarrassment in her eyes, he muttered something—and not altogether a blessing—upon Cornet Southorn.
"But you 'll—promise me you 'll," she insisted.
"And if I promise?" he asked slowly. He was looking into her face, thinking how sweet her lips were, and wishing he could throw honor to the winds and kiss them—just once, while they were so close to his own.
"There is nothing," she declared with a sudden impulse, "that I will not do for you in return!"
"Nothing!" A reckless light was now growing in his eyes. "Are you sure, Dot, there is nothing?"
"No, nothing I can do," she affirmed. But she could not help remarking his eagerness and illy repressed excitement, and felt that she must keep herself on guard against a possible demonstration,—something whose nature she could not foresee.
The young man was still looking fixedly at her. But now he let go her hands and sprang to his feet.
"I'll make no bargain with you, Dot," he said excitedly. "I hate this man, and have from the very first, and I hope I'll have the good fortune before many days to meet him face to face, in fair fight. But I promise, as you ask it, that I'll seek no quarrel with him. And even had you not asked, I'd surely never have mentioned your name to him."
"Thank you." Dorothy spoke very quietly; and before he could know of her intention she snatched his hand and kissed it.
She did it so suddenly and quickly that he knew not what to say or do. He felt the hot blood rush to his face, and found himself trembling from the storm aroused within him by her caress.