“I will not listen!” said I excitedly.  “Do you listen now to me, for I mean to have my way with you—­ say what you may——­”

“I know—­ I know—­ but you have done too much already——­”

“I have done nothing!  Listen!  I have bespoken trifles of no value—­ nothing more—­ stockings, and shifts, and stays, and powder-puffs, and other articles——­”

“I will not suffer this!” she said, an angry colour in her cheeks.

“You suffer now—­ for lack even of handkerchiefs!  I must insist——­”

“Euan!  My shifts and stays and stockings are none of your affair!” she answered hotly.

“I make them mine!”

“No—­ nor is it your privilege to offer them!”

“My—­ what?”

“Privilege!” she said haughtily, flushing clear to her curly hair; and left me checked.  She added:  “What you offer is impertinence—­ however kindly meant.  No friendship warrants it, and I refuse.”

I know not what it was—­ perhaps my hurt and burning silence under the sudden lash of her rebuff—­ but presently I felt her hand steal over mine and tighten.  And looked up, scowling, to see her eyes brimming with tears and merriment.

“How much of me must you have, Euan?  Even my privacy and pride?  You have given me friendship; you have clothed me to your fancy.  You have had scant payment in exchange—­ only a poor girl’s gratitude.  What have I left to offer in return if you bestow more gifts?  Give me no more—­ so that you take from me no more than—­ gratitude.”

“Comrades neither give nor take, Lois.  What they possess belongs to both in common.”

“I know—­ it is so said—­ but—­ you have had of me for all your bounty only my thanks—­ and——­” she smiled tremulously, “——­ a wild rose-bud.  And you have given so much—­ so much—­ and I am far too poor to render——­”

“What have I asked of you!” I said impatiently.

“Nothing.  And so I am the more inclined to give—­ I know not what.”

“Shall I tell you what to offer me?  Then offer me the privilege of giving.  It is the rarest gift within your power.”

She sat looking at me while the soft colour waned and deepened in her cheeks.

“I—­ give,” she said in a voice scarce audible.

“Then,” said I, very happily, “I am free to tell you that I have commanded for your comfort a host of pretty things, and a big box of wood and brass, with a stout hide outside, to keep your clothing in!  The lady of Captain Cresson, of the levies, has a noble one.  Yours is its mate.  And into yours will fit your gowns and shoon, patches and powder, and the hundred articles which every woman needs by day and night.  Also I’ve named you to Mr. Hake, so that, first writing for me upon a slip of paper that I may send it to him—­ then writing your request to him, you may make draughts for what you need upon our money, which now lies with him.  Do you understand me, Lois?  You will need money when the army leaves.”