Betty had blushed painfully at the entrance of Alfred and again at the Colonel’s remark.  To add to her embarrassment she found herself seated opposite Alfred at the table.  This was the first time he had been near her since the Sunday at the meeting-house, and the incident had a singular effect on Betty.  She found herself possessed, all at once, of an unaccountable shyness, and she could not lift her eyes from her plate.  But at length she managed to steal a glance at Alfred.  She failed to see any signs in his beaming face of the broken spirit of which her brother had hinted.  He looked very well indeed.  He was eating his dinner like any other healthy man, and talking and laughing with Lydia.  This developed another unaccountable feeling in Betty, but this time it was resentment.  Who ever heard of a man, who was as much in love as his letter said, looking well and enjoying himself with any other than the object of his affections?  He had got over it, that was all.  Just then Alfred turned and gazed full into Betty’s eyes.  She lowered them instantly, but not so quickly that she failed to see in his a reproach.

“You are going to stay with us a while, are you not?” asked Betty of Isaac.

“No, Betts, not more than a day or so.  Now, do not look so distressed.  I do not go back as a prisoner.  Myeerah and I can often come and visit you.  But just now I want to get back and try to prevent the Delawares from urging Tarhe to war.”

“Isaac, I believe you are doing the wisest thing possible,” said Capt.  Boggs.  “And when I look at your bride-to-be I confess I do not see how you remained single so long.”

“That’s so, Captain,” answered Isaac.  “But you see, I have never been satisfied or contented in captivity, I wanted nothing but to be free.”

“In other words, you were blind,” remarked Alfred, smiling at Isaac.

“Yes, Alfred, was.  And I imagine had you been in my place you would have discovered the beauty and virtue of my Princess long before I did.  Nevertheless, please do not favor Myeerah with so many admiring glances.  She is not used to it.  And that reminds me that I must expect trouble tomorrow.  All you fellows will want to kiss her.”

“And Betty is going to be maid of honor.  She, too, will have her troubles,” remarked Col.  Zane.

“Think of that, Alfred,” said Isaac “A chance to kiss the two prettiest girls on the border—­a chance of a lifetime.”

“It is customary, is it not?” said Alfred coolly.

“Yes, it’s a custom, if you can catch the girl,” answered Col.  Zane.

Betty’s face flushed at Alfred’s cool assumption.  How dared he?  In spite of her will she could not resist the power that compelled her to look at him.  As plainly as if it were written there, she saw in his steady blue eyes the light of a memory—­the memory of a kiss.  And Betty dropped her head, her face burning, her heart on fire with shame, and love, and regret.