Leon stood before her, a coward, as she knew and as she said, not daring
to come within reach of her terrible weapon, which she upheld with a
deadly purpose plainly visible in her eye. Yet it seemed as though,
with his great muscular power, he might easily have grasped that slender
arm and wrenched the dagger away. But this was a thing which he did not
dare to attempt; the risk was too great. He might have received a
scratch in the struggle with that young girl who confronted him so
steadily, and who, with all her fragile beauty, was so calm, so proud,
and so resolute.

Edith waited for a few moments, and then walked quietly away, trusting
implicitly to Leon's cowardice, and without another word, or even
another look, she left the room and returned to her own apartments.

* * * * *




CHAPTER XXXII.


A FIGHT IN THE ENEMY'S CAMP

It will have been seen already that Leon had taken up his abode at
Dalton Hall immediately after that marriage ceremony as the husband of
Edith. Her illness had hitherto prevented him from having any
understanding with her, and his own affairs called him away before her
recovery. With Wiggins he remained on the same footing as before; nor
did he find himself able to alter that footing in the slightest degree.