dy to die, as I deserve, for getting you
into danger; but the mischief of it is, what's going to become of
you? I swear to you, Talbot, this is now my only fear."

"Brooke," said Talbot, in mournful tones, "every word of yours is a
reproach to me. You force me to remember how base I have been in
allowing you to sacrifice yourself for me. Oh, if I could only recall
the past few hours! if we were only back again in the tower, I would
never let you go with me; I would make my journey alone, and--"

"I think," interrupted Brooke, "that I shall have to shut up. Come,
now, let's make a bargain. I'll say no more about it, if you don't.
Is it a bargain?"

"I suppose so."

There was silence now for a short time, after which Brooke said:

"Talbot, lad, you don't object, do you, to my holding your hand?"

"Object, Brooke? Certainly not."

"It seems to have the effect," said Brooke, "of soothing me, and of
making my self-reproach less keen."

"When you hold my hand, Brooke," said Talbot, in a low voice, whose
tremor showed unusual feeling, "I feel stronger, and all my weakness
leaves me. And I like best of all what you said to me about my not
being a girl. I love to have you call me 'Talbot,' for it sounds as
though you have confidence in poer me; but, best of all, I love to
hear you say 'Talbot, lad;' for it seems as though you look on me as
your equal. Your tone is that of a brave man addressing his comrade,
and the very sound of your voice seems to drive all my fear away."

"Good boy!" said Brooke, in a harsh, husky voice. After which, he
cleared his throat violently, but said nothing further for a while.

"You see, Talbot, lad," said he, at last, "it is this: I have a
feeling that I can't get rid of, and I've had it ever since we left
the tower. The feeling is this--that you are my younger brother. You
don't understand. I'll tell you about him."

"Your younger brother!" said Talbot, in a low voice, soft and
unutterably sweet. Then a little sigh followed, and she added: "And
that I will try to be to you, Brooke, until this danger is over. But
you must bear with me, and not be angry if I turn out sometimes to be
a coward."

"A coward?" said Brooke. "Come, I like that. Why, Talbot, boy though
you are, there is enough stuff in you to fit out half a dozen men.
You're a Talbot, to begin with; and, in addition to that, you are
that sort of a person that you would let yourself be torn in pieces
for the sake of a comrade.