And with that she shut to the door.

Sholto, in act to advance, stood a moment poised on one foot like a
goose. Then with a heart blazing with anger, and one of the first
oaths that had ever passed his lips, he turned on his heel and strode
away.

"I will never think of her again--I will never see her. I will go to
France and perish in battle. I will throw me in the castle pool. I
will--"

So the poor lad retreated, muttering hot and angry words, all his
heart sore within him because of the cruelty of this girl.

But he had not proceeded twenty steps along the corridor, when he
heard the door softly open and a low voice whispered, "Sholto! Sholto!
I want you, Sholto!"

He bent his brows and strode manfully on as if he had not heard a
word.

"Sholto!--dear Sholto! Do not go, I need you."

Against his will he turned, and, seeing the head of Maud Lindesay, her
pouting lips and beckoning finger, he went sulkily back.

"Well?" he said, with the stern curtness of a military commander, as
he stood before her.

She held the iron lamp in her hand. The wick had fallen aside and was