“How, madam?” I said, totally at a loss to understand her words. “Shame you?”
“Yes, yes—shame me,” she continued in the same passionate tone, “by this that you have done for me; by the forbearance that you have shown towards me—towards one who is unworthy——”
“My lady,” I cried, “unworthy?”
“Oh,” she continued, “if you would not believe in me; if you knew all—if you knew!” She broke off and laughed a trifle wildly. “Ah, forget my foolish words!”
“Say, rather, that it will be my happiness to remember them, madam,” I replied gravely; though I confess that I was puzzled at her marked agitation, for which, so far as I could see, there was no adequate reason. “And do not think that I blame you for your devotion to the cause of James. Were there many among his adherents as courageous as yourself, we should speedily see the Stuart back at Whitehall. Though in the accomplishment of this object you have not my sympathy, yet the very boldness of the scheme by which you hoped to effect a rising in this county cannot but command my admiration. The very hopelessness of imagining that you could succeed in the face of William’s settled government would appeal to any soldier.”
“And you who wear his uniform—you to whom these men were enemies—can yet find it in your heart to spare them?” she said in a low voice.
I took two steps towards her.
“Nay, do not credit me with a generosity which a nature such as mine is incapable of forming. A month ago I would have sent these men to death and recked little of the doing, save, indeed, to count it to my credit. Shall I tell your ladyship why I have not done so?”
She made a faint gesture of protest, but I took no heed and continued: “Because I knew that your name headed the list, madam.” And I stopped, overcome by my own temerity.
She had moved to the window while I was speaking, and her face was turned from me. I could not guess what thoughts were passing through her brain, but I fancied that I saw her shoulders heave. Yet she made no reply, though I waited almost trembling for the words that did not come.