The flaming fire lighted up her face, making it seem to flush with the
dancing glow, which sparkled like diamonds in her eyes, and touched
with ruddy light the dark, dishevelled hair. Hers was a young, fair
face,--a face to love and trust forever, yet with a pride in it, and a
certain firmness also that somehow was good to see. All this I noted
with one quick upward glance, and with a sudden thrill of the heart
such as I had never known before.




CHAPTER VII

A DISCIPLE OF SIR WALTER


I have no doubt she wished me to see her thus. Every woman worth the
winning is a bit of a coquette, and none can be utterly disdainful of
the lesson their mirror tells. But even as I gazed upon her, my
admiration deeper than my pain, the arch expression of her face
changed; there came a sudden rush of pity, of anxiety into those clear,
challenging eyes, and with one quick step she drew nearer and bent
above me.

"Oh, Captain Wayne," she cried, her warm, womanly heart conquering all
prejudice, "you are badly hurt and bleeding. Why did you not tell me?
Please let me aid you."

"I fear I must," I replied grimly. "I would gladly spare you, for
indeed I do not believe my injury sufficiently serious to cause alarm,