The Pilot's face lit up, and he came nearer and laid his hand caressingly upon her beautiful horse.
“Yes, thank God!” he said quickly, “bright as the morning.”
“How can that be?” she asked, looking down into his face. “Perhaps she would tell me.”
“Lady Charlotte,” said The Pilot with a sudden flush, “I must ask your pardon. I was wrong. I thought you—” he paused; “but go to Gwen, she will tell you, and you will do her good.”
“Thank you,” said Lady Charlotte, putting out her hand, “and perhaps you will come and see me, too.”
The Pilot promised and stood looking after us as we rode up the trail.
“There is something more in your Pilot than at first appears,” she said. “The Duke was quite right.”
“He is a great man,” I said with enthusiasm; “tender as a woman and with the heart of a hero.”
“You and Bill and The Duke seem to agree about him,” she said, smiling.
Then I told her tales of The Pilot, and of his ways with the men, till her blue eyes grew bright and her beautiful face lost its proud look.