“Believe me, I will be doing that same,” she cried with shining eyes, and before I divined her intent had stooped to kiss my hand that rested on the coach door.
My heart lilted as I crossed the heath to where the others were waiting for me beyond the dip of the hillock.
“Faith, I began to think you had forgotten me and gone off with the lady yourself,” laughed Volney.
I flung off my cloak and my inner coat, for though the night was chill I knew I should be warm enough when once we got to work. Then, strangely enough, an unaccountable reluctance to engage came over me, and I stood tracing figures on the heath with the point of my small sword.
“Are you ready?” asked the baronet.
I broke out impetuously. “Sir Robert, you have ruined many. Your victims are to be counted by the score. I myself am one. But this girl shall not be added to the list. I have sworn it; so have my friends. There is still time for you to leave unhurt if you desire it, but if we once cross swords one of us must die.”
“And, prithee, Mr. Montagu, why came we here?”
“Yet even now if you will desist——”
His caustic insolent laugh rang out gaily as he mouthed the speech of Tybalt in actor fashion.
| “‘What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagus, and thee; Have at thee, coward.’” |