r?" she asked softly.

"Thank you but I--am very well here!" he answered; whereupon my lady
frowned at her book and fluttered its pages with petulant fingers.

"Can it be sir," she questioned, "can it possibly be that Major John
d'Arcy so--so sternly orthodox and----and Whiggish is willing to give
shelter to a Jacobite rebel?" The Major bowed. "And you are a--loyal
soldier?"

"I--was!" he answered, sighing so deeply that she glanced at him again
and beholding his troubled face, her petulant fingers were stilled, her
frown vanished and her voice grew suddenly pleading and tender.

"Prithee, Major John will you not--sit awhile?" and she drew aside the
folds of her gown invitingly.

"Indeed I--I had--rather not!" he answered, drawing back a step.

My lady's round bosom heaved tempestuous and she glanced at his averted
face with eyes of scorn.

"Sir," said she, "the soldier who shelters the enemies of his king is
a--traitor!" The Major winced. "And traitors are sometimes--hanged,
sir!"

"Or shot, or beheaded!" he murmured.

"And you, Major d'Arcy, you are willing to run all these risks and
wherefore?" The Major prodded diligently at a patch of moss with his
cane, while, chin on hand, she watched him, waiting his answer.

"Need you ask?" he muttered.

"I do ask, sir," said she, her watchful gaze unwavering; and he,
conscious of this intent look, flushed, grew uneasy, grew abashed;
finally he raised his head and returned her look and in his eyes was
that which called imperious to all her womanhood, that before which her
own eyes fell though his voice was very tender as he answered:

"My lady you know well 'tis--for you. You know my love is one that
counteth not risk, now or--or ever."

At this, my lady having seen and heard all she had desired, bowed
shapely head and was silent awhile, staring down at the page before her
headed: "Quartern Ague." When at last she spoke her voice quavered
oddly and he flinched, believing that she laughed at him again.

"Your coat is more--more threadbare and--woebegone than--ever, John!"
Here he sighed, still thinking that she mocked him but, as he turned
away, he saw something that fell sparkling upon the page before her,
followed by another and another. The Major stood awe-struck.

"My lady!" he exclaimed, "mam----"

"Do--not----" my lady sobbed but stamped her foot at him none the less.

"Madam," he corrected hastily.

"Nor that, sir! I'll not be 'madam-ed' or