“Captain Le Gaire—­”

“Now you wait; this is my turn to talk.  You thought you had fooled me, but you had not.  Under other conditions I might accede to your request, but not now—­not to give you over to a Yank.  I’ve got your promise, and I propose to hold you to it.”

“But it is not that,” she protested.  “I—­I am not in love with Lieutenant Galesworth.”

“So that is the fellow’s name, is it—­Galesworth,” sneeringly.  “I thought you pretended before you did not know.”

She remained silent, confused.

“I’m glad to know who he is; some day we may have a settlement.  Well, all I know about the affair is this, but that’s enough—­you rode with him all one night, hid him all the next day, and then helped him escape.  You lied to me repeatedly, and now you want to break away from me at the last minute.  It’s either this Galesworth or somebody else—­now who is it?”

Billie sank back into a chair, but with her eyes still on the man’s face.

“It is no—­one,” she said wearily.  “It is not that at all; I—­I simply do not care for you in that way any longer.”

“Poof! do you mean you won’t keep your word?”

“I mean I want to be released—­at least a postponement until I can be sure of myself.”

“And I refuse—­refuse, do you understand that?  You either marry me to-night or I go to your father with the whole story.  He’ll be pleased to learn of your affair with a Yankee spy, no doubt, and of how you helped the fellow through our lines.  And I’ve got the proofs too.  Now, young lady, it is about time to stop this quarrel, and come down to facts.  What are you going to do?”

“You insist?”

“Of course I do.”

Her head sank upon her hand, and even from where I peered in upon them, helpless to get away, equally helpless to aid, I could see her form tremble.

“Then there is no escape, I suppose; I must keep my promise.”

He touched her on the shoulder, indifferent to her shrinking away, a sarcastic smile on his lips.

“I knew you would.  I don’t take this Yankee business seriously, only I wanted you to know I understood all about it.  You’re too sensible a girl to get tangled up that way.  We’ll drop it now, and I’ll show you how good I can be.  May I kiss you?”

“I—­I would rather not—­not yet.  Don’t be angry, but I—­I am not myself.  Where were you going?”

“To tell your father it is all settled.  You must be ready when we come back.”

He paused with hand on the door looking back at her.  There was a moment’s breathless silence; then her lips whispered: 

“Yes.”