ke that, Dorothea. He is not like that with my
sisters. Why, he is rather the other way, awfully polite and all that
sort of thing, you know."

"Yes, that's the way with young German gentlemen to young ladies, that
is, other people's ladies. But to their own, no. And I must tell you.
Oh, I am afraid to tell you," she added breathlessly. "But I will tell
you, you have been so kind, so good to me. You are my friend, and you
will not tell. Promise me you will never tell." The girl's usually red
face was pale, her voice was hoarse and trembling.

"What is the matter, Dorothea? Of course I won't tell."

"Ernest wants to marry your sister, Kathleen. He is just mad to get her,
and he always gets his way too. I would not like to see your sister his
wife. He would break her heart and," she added in a lower voice, "yours
too. But remember you are not to tell. You are not to let him know I
told you." A real terror shone in her eyes. "Do you hear me?" she cried.
"He would beat me with his whip. He would, he would."

"Beat you, beat you?" Larry pulled up his horse short. "Beat you in this
country--oh, Dorothea!"

"They do. Our men do beat their women, and Ernest would too. The women
do not think the same way about it as your women. You will not tell?"
she urged.

"What do you think I am, Dorothea? And as for beating you, let me catch
him. By George, I'd, I'd--"

"What?" said Dorothea, turning her eyes full upon him, her pale face
flushing.

Larry laughed. "Well, he's a big chap, but I'd try to knock his block
off. But it's nonsense. Ernest is not that kind. He's an awfully good
sort."

"He is, he is a good sort, but he is also a German officer and, ah, you
cannot understand, but do not let him have your sister. I have told you.
Come, let us go quickly."

They rode on in silence, but did not overtake the others until they
reached the timber lot where they found the party waiting. With what
Dorothea had just told him in his mind, Larry could not help a keen
searching of Kathleen's face. She was quietly chatting with the young
German, with face serene and quite untouched with anything but the
slightest animation. "She is not worrying over anything," said Larry to
himself. Then he turned and looked upon the face of the young man at
her side. A shock of surprise, of consternation, thrilled him. The young
man's face was alight with an intensity of eagerness, of desire, that
startled Larry and filled him with a new feeling of