“He was the only friend left me in the world, and I know not why he is taken and I am left.” He withdrew his hand from contact with the girl’s, and rose. “I cannot stay, for my mission is not to be slighted, but I will speak to O'Hara, and see that he gets a funeral befitting his rank.” Brereton squared his shoulders and raised his voice, to say: “Lord Chewton, I am—”
With a quick motion, the girl rose to her feet and said: “I have no right to detain you, Colonel Brereton, but—but I want you to know that neither dadda nor I knew the truth concerning Mrs. Loring when we said what we did on that fatal night. We both thought—thought—Your confession to me that once you loved her, and her looking too young to be your mother, led me into a misconception.”
“Then you forgive me?” he cried eagerly.
“For the words you spoke then I do not even blame you, sir. But what was, can never be again.”
“Ay,” said the officer, bitterly. “You need not say it. You cannot scorn me more than I scorn myself.”
Not giving her time to reply, he crossed to where the officer with the bandage stood waiting him, and once again was blindfolded, and led to headquarters.
“This way,” directed General O’Hara, leading him into a room where stood Cornwallis.
“Are you familiar, sir, with the contents of General Washington’s letter?” asked the earl.
“No, my Lord; I was its bearer only because I begged the Marquis de Lafayette to secure me the service.”
“He grants a suspension of hostilities for two hours from the delivery of this, for me to put my proposals in writing. Did he say aught to you, sir, of the terms he would grant?”