"That is always a legitimate form of entertainment, a woman's right and privilege! Please put all this out of your mind!"
"It's not a thing to be dismissed so lightly. I'm very unhappy about it; I'm deeply ashamed of myself!"
"You exaggerate the whole matter," he urged. "You are making me out a miserable weakling indeed when you think I ambled off toward perdition just because you dared me to assert myself a little!"
"I want you to promise," she said slowly, "that you won't in any way interfere with my cousin here. I can't have you taking further risks. After last night I doubt whether he bothers us. Ruth feels as I do about it; you must go away. You will promise, please—"
"You would have us run just as the game grows interesting! Of course we're not going to quit the field and leave that fellow here to annoy you! He's a dangerous character and we're going to get rid of him."
She was depressed, much as Ruth had been a few hours earlier and his efforts to win her to a happier frame of mind were unavailing.
"I love you; I love you!" he said softly.
"You must never say that to me again," she said slowly and determinedly. "After my stupid, cruel thoughtlessness you must hate me—"
"But, Isabel—"
She seized the lantern and hurried away, her head bowed, the cloak billowing about her. He watched the lantern till its gleam was swallowed up in the darkness.