“I’ll answer that directly: after such sharp espionage, denial would not avail me. I did meet him.”
“And for what purpose? Did you meet as lovers?”
“That question is impertinent; I won’t answer it.”
“Virginia! I implore you—”
“And cannot two people encounter each other in the woods, without being charged with love-making? Might we not have come together by chance? or might I not have had other business with the Seminole chief? You do not know all my secrets, nor do I intend you shall either.”
“Oh, it was no chance encounter—it was an appointment—a love-meeting: you could have had no other affair with him.”
“It is natural for you to think so—very natural, since I hear you practise such duettos yourself. How long, may I ask, since you held your last tête-à-tête with your own fair charmer—the lovely Maümee? Eh! brother?”
I started as if stung. How could my sister have gained intelligence of this? Was she only guessing? and had chanced upon the truth?
For some moments I could not make reply, nor did I make any to her last interrogatory. I paid no heed to it, but, becoming excited, pressed my former inquiries with vehemence.
“Sister! I must have an explanation; I insist upon it—I demand it!”