Mall." Slowly, slowly her red lips curved, her gaze
sank beneath his.

"You mean, I think, when I wore----"

"I do!" said he hastily.

"So you have not forgot?"

"Would to heaven I might!"

"And prithee why?"

"'Twas so unworthy your proud womanhood!"

My lady flushed, averted her head and walked on in a dignified silence
until they reached the rustic bridge; here she paused to look down into
the stilly pool.

"Heigho!" she sighed. The Major was silent and seeing how he frowned
with his big chin out-thrust, she bit her lip and dimpled.

"The moon will be at the full to-night!" Still he didn't speak. "And
when the moon is full I always feel excessive feminine and vapourish!"
The Major, staring into the gloomy water, gloomed also. "And when I
feel vapourish, chiding nauseates me and reproaches give me the
megrims."

"I would not reproach you, child----"

"Ancient sir, I am not a child. And you do reproach me--you said 'twas
unworthy!"

"Aye, I said so," he admitted, keeping his gaze bent upon the sleepy
pool, "I said so, my lady, because I would have you in all things most
noble, most high and far removed 'bove fear of reproach. Because I
would have you worthy of all reverence."

"Alas!" she sighed, "here is a something trying role for a poor maid
who chances to be very human flesh and blood!"

"And yet," said he in his grave, gentle voice, "knowing you flesh and
blood, in my thought you were very nigh to divinity also."

"Were?" she questioned softly. "Is my poor divinity lost so soon?"
And her arm touched his upon the handrail. The Major sighed and
immediately the arm withdrew itself and, before he could speak, she
laughed, though her merriment rang a little hollow. "And forsooth is
it so deep a sin, so black a crime to have ventured abroad in my
brother's clothes? And if it were, pray who is Major d'Arcy to sit in
judgment? Am I dishonoured, smirched beyond redemption----"

"No--no----" he exclaimed.

"So stained, so steeped in depravity----"

"Ah no indeed!" he cried, "indeed madam--ah, Betty it was but that it
seemed so--so----"

"So what, sir?"

"So--so--unmaidenly."

My lady Betty caught her breath in a gasp, her cheeks glowed hot and
angry and she fronted him with head upflung.

"How dare you--how dare you think me so--speak me so!" Even as she
spoke, proud colour ebbed, hot anger was ousted by cold disdain and he
blenched before the scorn of her eyes; he grew humble, ab