Part 40 (1/2)

But I could have carried her, easily as Loris was doing, if I'd had the chance and the right

Yet his was the right; I knew that well, for I had seen the look in her eyes as she greeted him just no could I have been such a conceited fool as to iine she loved me, even for a moment! What I had dared to hope--to think--was love, was nothing of the kind; merely frank _cathe last week or two of her stay at Mary's; but soain at last, she was iht was a bitter one! She loved ood comrade Well, hadn't I told myself for months past that I must be content with that?

CHAPTER XLII

THE DESERTED HUNTING LODGE

Our own horses were already at the appointed place, together with Pavloff and the Duke's little band of ”recruits;” sturdy young _ht of dawn, cleaner andthan most of their class

They were freshly horsed, for they had taken advantage of the confusion in the town to ”commandeer” re-mounts,--as they say in South Africa

There were horses for Anne, and her cousin, too Pavloff, like his son, was a

Anne had already revived froue I had heard her talking to Loris, as we ca; more than once she declared she was quite able to walk, but he only shook his head and strode on

He set her do, and seeh,--hoell I knew that laugh!--though I had already swung ed a little away

”It is not the first tioes well enough, does it not?” she said, riding towards me

I had to look round at that

She was irls ride in the Western States

She had slipped off the skirt of her dark riding-habit, and flung it over her right ar coat reaching to the tops of her high riding-boots

I felt a luure, at the s under the little astrachan cap that she wore, at the white face with its brave smile

I kneell that she was all but dead-beat, and that she only laughed lest she oes well indeed, _capitaine_,” I answered, with a military salute

Pavloff, still on foot, carowl; he was an elder edition of his son Mishka

She listened, looking down at hiravely and kindly I could not take my eyes froed I guessed wherein the change lay When I had known her before she had only been playing a part, posing as a lovely, light-hearted, capriciously coquettish girl, without a real care in the world But now I saw her without theher youth, her beauty, her brilliant talents, to a great cause,--a well-nigh hopeless one,--and I loved her more than ever, with a passionate fervor that, I honestly declare, had no taint of selfishness in it Froh for me merely to be near her, to serve her, shi+eld her perhaps, and count, as a rich reward, every chance word or thought or sht bestow on me

”Yes, it is well; your duty lies there,” I heard her say ”God be with you, old friend; and farewell!”

She slipped her right hand out of its loose leather glove, and held it out to him

When I first saw her at Chelsea, I had decided that hers were the most beautiful hands in the world, not sraceful movements, somehow seemed to convey a subtle idea of power and versatility She never wore rings I remembered how Mary once remarked on this peculiarity, and Anne had answered that she did not care for them