ion. He had wished to hurt her.

Colina went to him and humbly touched his arm.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

He looked at her grimly.

"You should not try such tricks," he said. "A man's endurance has its
limits."

There was something delicious to Colina in abasing herself before him.
She caught up his hand and pressed it to her cheek.

"How was I to know?" she murmured. "Other men are not like you."

"I might have surprised you," he said grimly.

"You did!" whispered Colina. The suspicion of a dimple showed in
either cheek.

He rose. "Let me alone for a minute," he said. "I'll be all right."
He went to the horse and loosened the saddle girths.

Colina could have crawled through the grass to his feet. She lay where
he had left her until he came back. He sat down again, but not
touching her. He was still pale, but he had got a grip on himself.

"Tell me," he said quietly, "did you do it just for fun, or had you a
reason?"

"I had a reason."

"What was it?" he asked in cold surprise.

"I--I can't tell you while you are angry with me," she faltered.

"I can't get over it right away," he said simply. "Give me time."

Colina hid her face in her arm and her shoulders shook a little. It is
doubtful if any real tears flowed, but the move was just as successful.
He leaned over and laid a tender hand on her shoulder.

"Ah, don't!" he said. "What need you care if I am angry. You know I
love you. You know I--I am mad with loving you! Why--it would have
been more merciful for you to shoot me down than come at me the way you
did!"

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I never dreamed it would hurt so much! I
had to do it--Ambrose!"

It was the first time she had spoken his name. He paused for a moment
to consider the wonder of it.

"Why?" he asked dreamily.

Colina sat up.

"I worried all night about whether you would be sorry to-day," she
said, averting her head from him. "I thought that nothing so swift
could possibly be lasting. And then this morning father and I had a
frightful row.

"I was starting out to come to you, and he caught me. He all but
disowned me. I came right on--I told him I was coming. And on the way
here I thought--I knew I would have to tell you what had happened.

"And I thought if you were secretly sorry--for last night--when you
heard about father and I--you would feel that you had to stand by me
anyway! And then I would never know if you really-- So I had to