"Why, really, as to that I do not remember. I
merely mentioned it as expressing the natural gratitude of us both."
"You speak as if you possessed full authority to express her mind as
well as your own."
The other bowed gravely, his face impassive. "My words would quite
naturally bear some such construction."
The officer hesitated, feeling more doubtful than ever regarding his
own position. Chagrined, disarmed, he felt like a prisoner standing
bound before his mocking captor. "Then I fear my mission here is
useless."
"Entirely so, if you come for the purpose I suspect," said Hampton,
sitting erect in his chair, and speaking with more rapid utterance.
"To lecture me on morality, and demand my yielding up all influence
over this girl,--such a mission is assured of failure. I have listened
with some degree of calmness in this room already to one such address,
and surrendered to its reasoning. But permit me to say quite plainly,
Lieutenant Brant, that you are not the person from whom I will quietly
listen to another."
"I had very little expectation that you would."
"You should have had still less, and remained away entirely.
Pages:
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245