ry him. But at last I came to know
that your love and affection could not make me forget him--no, never.
I realize that now. He and I can never come together, but I owe him so
much--I owe him my life, for he saved it; he must ever have a place
in my heart, be to me more than any one else can be. I want you to do
something for him."

"What do you wish?"

"I want you to have removed from him the sentence of the British
Government. I want him to be free to come and go anywhere in the
world--to return to England if he wishes it, to be a free man, and not a
victim Off Outlawry. I want that, and you ought to give it to him."

"Why?"

Indignation filled her eyes. "You ask why. He has saved your
administration and the island from defeat and horrible loss. He has
prevented most of the slaves from revolting, and he conquered the
Maroons. The empire is his debtor. Will you do this for one who has done
so much for you?"

Lord Mallow was disconcerted, but he did not show it. "I can do no
more than I have done. I have not confined him to his plantation as the
Government commanded; I cannot go beyond that."

"You can put his case from the standpoint of a patriot."

For a moment the governor hesitated, then he said: "Because you ask
me--"

"I want it done for his sake, not for mine," she returned with decision.
"You owe it to yourself to see that it is done. Gratitude is not dead in
you, is it?"

Lord Mallow flushed. "You press his case too hard. You forget what he
is--a mutineer and a murderer, and no one should remember that as you
should."

"He has atoned for both, and you know it well. Besides, he was not a
murderer. Even the courts did not say he was. They only said he was
guilty of manslaughter. Oh, your honour, be as gallant as your name and
place warrant."

He looked at her for a moment with strange feelings in his heart. Then
he said: "I will give you an answer in twenty-four hours. Will that do,
sweet persuader?"

"It might do," she answered, and, strange to say, she had a sure feeling
that he would say yes, in spite of her knowledge that, in his heart of
hearts, he hated Calhoun.

As she left the room, Lord Mallow stood for a moment looking after her.

"She loves the rogue in spite of all!" he said bitterly. "But she must
come with me. They are apart as the poles. Yet I shall do as she wishes
if I am to win her."

CHAPTER XXIII. THE COMING OF NOREEN

The next day came a new element in the situati