"
"But I--I came as soon as I could! Ah! surely he gave you some
message--some word for me?"
"None, madam!" said Barnabas evenly, but his hand had clenched
itself suddenly on the stick he held.
"But I--don't understand!" she sighed, with a helpless gesture of
her white hands, "to hurry away like this, without a word! Oh,
why--why did he go?"
"Madam," said Barnabas, "it was because I asked him to."
"You--asked him to?"
"I did."
"But why--why?"
"Because, from what little I know of him, I judged it best."
"Sir," she said, softly, "sir--what do you mean?"
"I mean, that this is such a very lonely place for any woman
and--such as he."
Now even as Barnabas uttered the words she advanced upon him with
upflung head and eyes aflame with sudden passionate scorn.
"Insolent," she exclaimed. "So it was you--you actually dared to
interfere?"
"Madam," said Barnabas, "I did."
Very straight and proud she stood, and motionless save for the pant
and tumult of her bosom, fierce-eyed and contemptuous of lip.
"And remained to insult me--with impunity."
"To take you home again," said Barnabas, "therefore pray let us
begone.
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