Part 20 (2/2)
”My dear,” said he, in a voice scarce above a whisper; and started toward her, with arms held out, and (I am sure) a very angel's smile of joy and love upon his face.
She opened her eyes and lips in wonder, and then stood pale and rigid as marble, and made a faint gesture to check his approach. As he halted in astonishment, his joy dying at her look, she whispered hoa.r.s.ely:
”You! You, of all men? And to-night, of all nights!”
'Twas the night of our setting forth upon her great design of seizing his commander-in-chief.
CHAPTER XII.
_Their Interview._
Philip took note, at the time, rather of her look than of her words.
”Why, dear,” said he, ”don't be frightened. Tis I, Philip--'tis not my ghost.”
”Yes, 'tis you--I know that well enough.”
”Then--” he began, and stepped toward her.
But she retreated with such a movement that he stopped again.
”What's the matter?” he questioned. ”Why do you look so?--This is scarce the welcome I had imagined.”
”Why are you here?” she asked, in a low voice, regarding him steadily.
”How did you come? What does it mean?”
”It means I love you so much, I could stay no longer from seeing you.
I came by horse, boat, and foot. I pa.s.sed the British sentries.”
”You risked your life, then?”
”Oh, of course. If they caught me inside their lines, they would hang me as a spy. But--”
She could not but be touched at this. ”Poor Philip!” she murmured, with a tremor in her voice.
”Not poor,” said he, ”now that I am with you--if you would not draw back, and look so. What is wrong? Am I--unwelcome?”
She saw that, to be true to her design, to her elaborate plan for the future, she must not soften toward him--for his reappearance, with the old-time boyish look and manner, the fond expression now wistful and alarmed, the tender eyes now startled and affrighted, revived much that had been dormant in her heart, and made Captain Falconer seem a very far-off and casual person. Against the influence of Philip's presence, and the effect of his having so imperilled himself to see her, she had to arm herself with coldness, or look upon the success of her project as going for naught to her advantage. She dared not contemplate the forfeit; so she hardened her heart.
”Why,” she said, with a forced absence of feeling, ”so many years have pa.s.sed--so many things have happened--you appear so much a stranger--”
”Stranger!” echoed he. ”Why, not if you had thought of me half as constantly as I have of you! You have been in my mind, in my heart, every hour, every minute since that day--Can it be? Is it my Margaret that stands there and speaks so? So unmoved to see me! So cold! Oh, who would have expected this?”
He sat down and gazed wretchedly about the room, taking no cognisance of what objects his sight fell upon. Margaret seated herself, with a sigh of annoyance, and regarded him with a countenance of displeasure.
”Margaret, do you mean what you say?” he asked, after a short silence.
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