Part 3 (2/2)

At this her eyes widened and the smile on her face became less genuine. ”Indeed, I shall not go with you,” she said.

”I'm afraid I'll have to insist,” said I.

She still balanced her hazel rod across her shoulders, a smile curving her mouth.

”Monsieur,” she said, ”do you ride through the world pressing every peasant girl you meet with such ardent entreaties? Truly, your fas.h.i.+on of wooing is not slow, but everybody knows that hussars are headlong gentlemen--'Nothing is sacred from a hussar,'” she hummed, deliberately, in a parody which made me writhe in my saddle.

”Mademoiselle,” said I, taking off my forage-cap, ”your ridicule is not the most disagreeable incident that I expect to meet with to-day.

I am attempting to do my duty, and I must ask you to do yours.”

”By taking a walk with you, beau monsieur?”

”I'm afraid so.”

”And if I refuse?”

”Then,” said I, amiably, ”I shall be obliged to set you on my horse.” And I dismounted and went toward her.

”Set me on--on that horse?” she repeated, with a disturbed smile.

”Will you come on foot, then?”

”No, I will not!” she said, with a click of her teeth.

I looked at my watch--it lacked five minutes to one.

”In five minutes we are going to start,” said I, cheerfully, and stood waiting, twisting the gilt hilt-ta.s.sels of my sabre with nervous fingers.

After a silence she said, very seriously, ”Monsieur, would you dare use violence toward me?”

”Oh, I shall not be very violent,” I replied, laughing. I held the opened watch in my hand so that she could see the dial if she chose.

”It is one o'clock,” I said, closing the hunting-case with a snap.

She looked me steadily in the eyes.

”Will you come with me to La Trappe?”

She did not stir.

I stepped toward her; she gave me a breathless, defiant stare; then in an instant I caught her up and swung her high into my saddle, before either she or I knew exactly what had happened.

Fury flashed up in her eyes and was gone, leaving them almost blank blue. As for me, amazed at what I had done, I stood at her stirrup, breathing very fast, with jaws set and chin squared.

She was clever enough not to try to dismount, woman enough not to make an awkward struggle or do anything ungraceful. In her face I read an immense astonishment; fascination seemed to rivet her eyes on me, following my every movement as I shortened one stirrup for her, tightened the girths, and laid the bridle in her half-opened hand.

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