ange gown she seemed
saddened, matured. And she answered me gravely. "Monsieur, please
understand. My cousin and I---- Why, we traveled side by side in the
Iroquois canoes. He served me, was careful of me; he--he has suffered
for me, monsieur. I was hard to him for a long time,--a longer time
than I like to remember. But I could not but listen to his
explanation. And, whatever he did, he is, after all, my cousin, and he
regrets deeply all that happened. As to this gown,--it is one I wore
in Boston. My cousin brought it in his canoe and left it here at the
garrison when he went west. Monsieur"----

"Yes, madame."

"Monsieur, I was wrong when I suspected my cousin. I have an unkind
nature in many ways. He came here to find me,--for that alone. He
honors you greatly for all you have done for me. I hope that you will
give him opportunity to thank you as he wishes."

I thought of Starling's great voice, his air of power. "I hope to meet
your cousin," I replied.

It was a churlish return, and she had been gentle. The chill that fell
between us was of my making. I knew that with every second of silence
I was putting myself more deeply in the wrong. But I had to ask one
thing more.

"Madame, they tell me here that you say that you regret our
marriage,--that I forced you to bear my name. Have you said that?"

I could not be blind to the hurt in her face. "Monsieur, how can you
ask?"

And then I was shamed. I knelt again to her hand. "Only to prove in
open words that Lord Starling lied. Did you think I doubted? No,
madame, no woman of our house has ever had finer pride or a truer
instinct. Believe me, I see that. But so the story flies. Madame,
all eyes are on us. We must define the situation in some manner as
regards the world. May I talk to you of this?"

The hand under my lips grew warm. "Monsieur, we are to wait. When we
reach Montreal"----

"But, madame! These intervening months! It will be late autumn before
we return to Montreal."

She drew in her breath. "Late autumn! Monsieur, what are your plans?
You forget that I know nothing. And tell me of your escape."

I rose and looked down at her. "We have both escaped," I said, and
because emotion was smiting me my voice was hard. "Let us not talk of
it. I see that you are here, and I thank God. But I cannot yet bring
myself to ask what you have been through. I cannot face the horror of
it for you. I beg you to understand