True as truth herself, she could not contemplate such treachery calmly, even though Cora had treated her so cruelly that many would have held it a fair revenge.
He took her little hand in spite of her protest, and held it, and it fluttered like a little, white bird in his clasp.
He looked full into her eyes, and, oh, how soft and dark they were, as if full of unshed tears.
“Answer me one question,” he said: “If I had been free to woo you, if there had been no Cora who held my promise, could you have given me your love?”
In the beautiful moonlight he saw her bosom heave with emotion, and she faltered sadly:
“You must pardon me for not answering that question.”
Then she tore her hand away, and fled from him in the wildest haste. He saw her no more till next morning in the rush of leaving.
He went up to her, saying:
“We shall be landing presently. Shall I take you to your friends, Jessie?”
She looked up at him very pale and constrained.