"Be generous! Don't punish me that way. Something dreadful will come of it."
She broke down and struggled with her tears. He watched her for a moment without speaking.
"Good enough. I'll be generous and let you pay his debt for him, if you want to do it."
Her eyes were glad with the swift joy that leaped into them.
"That is good of you! And how shall I pay?" she cried.
"With a kiss."
[She drew back as if he had struck her, all the sparkling eagerness driven from her face.]
"Oh!" she moaned.
"Just one kiss—I don't ask anything more. Give me that, and I'll turn him loose. Honor bright."
He held her startled gaze as a snake holds that of a fascinated bird.