In the meantime, Nell Harley made a swift and glowing passage across the field. She found Kate in the sitting room.
"Is Mr. Rayton in a serious condition?" asked Kate. "Dear me, what a splendid color you have! You look really beautiful. What has happened?"
Nell began to laugh excitedly. She threw aside her gloves and mink-skin coat. She cut several unclassified dancing steps on the rug in front of the fire.
"What on earth is the matter with you?" demanded the young matron anxiously.
"Nothing," said Nell. "I kissed him—that is all."
"You kissed him? Good gracious! What for?"
"He told me to."
"Told you to?"
"Yes. Well, he asked me to. He—he said he would rather be shot through the shoulder every day of his life than go away from—me. He said he loved me—he said it over and over and over again. He says it is nonsense—all about that curse. So it is. Then, all of a sudden, I just——"
"Fell into his arms," interrupted the young matron.