ject, reached
out hands in supplication:

"My lady I--I--God knows I would not hurt you! Indeed I did but
mean----"

"Enough sir, 'tis sufficient!" said she disdainfully. "Major d'Arcy
doth pronounce me unmaidenly--O, 'tis all-sufficing!" and, as she
turned her back on him, her very garments seemed to radiate scorn
unutterable.

"Stay!" he pleaded, as she moved away. "Ah, never leave me so---do but
let me explain--hear me!"

"Be silent, sir!" she commanded, speaking over her shoulder, "I've
heard enough, aye--enough for a lifetime!" And stepping from the
bridge she turned aside into the wood; but there, his hand upon her arm
arrested her.

"Child, whither go you?"

"Whereso I will, sir. A fair, good even to you and--good-bye!"

"Not through the wood, madam! There be rough folk about, the Sergeant
tells me--gipsies, tramping folk and the like."

"O sir," she sighed, "I may prefer such to Major--Prudery--d'Arcy!" and
setting aside a bramble-shoot she went on into the wood, and, when he
would have followed, checked him with an imperious gesture. "Come no
further, sir, here be thorns to spoil gay finery--and besides," she
added, glancing back at him with merciless eyes, "your sober airs annoy
me, your lofty virtue is an offence--pray suffer me to go alone!"

The Major flushed painfully, took off his hat and bowed.

"As you will, madam!" said he and, stepping aside, watched her go until
the leaves had hidden her from sight. Then, putting on his hat, he
took a score or so of slow strides away and as many slow strides back
again, until, being come some little way in among the trees, he halted
to listen. Faint and far he caught a rustle, a leafy stirring that
told where she moved and, guided by this he began to follow into the
depths of the wood. Suddenly he paused to listen intently, cane
grasped in powerful fist, then hurried on at speed, choosing his way
with quick, soldierly eye and making very little sound for all his
haste and so reached a little clearing.

She stood, back set to a tree, hands gripping her basket, head erect
and defiant but in her wide eyes a sickening fear as she fronted a
tall, burly, gipsy-looking fellow who carried a knobby bludgeon and
whose eyes, heedful and deliberate, roved over her trembling loveliness
and whose hairy lips curled as he slowly advanced. Then the Major
stepped out from the leaves, his gait unhurried and limping a little as
was usual. But at sight of him m