"An' I reckon you'll say you hadn't heerd he was there?"
"I had not," flashed Columbine.
"Wal, did you see him?"
"Yes, sir, I did, but quite by accident."
"Ahuh! Columbine, are you lyin' to me?"
The hot blood flooded to Columbine's cheeks, as if she had been struck a blow.
"Dad!" she cried, in hurt amaze.
Belllounds seemed thick, imponderable, as if something had forced a crisis in him and his brain was deeply involved. The habitual, cool, easy, bold, and frank attitude in the meeting of all situations seemed to have been encroached upon by a break, a bewilderment, a lessening of confidence.
"Wal, are you lyin'?" he repeated, either blind to or unaware of her distress.
"I could not--lie to you," she faltered, "even--if--I wanted to."