Part 7 (1/2)
”Do you think you could show your friends.h.i.+p and stick to me through a terrible ordeal?” she asked earnestly.
”I'm sure of it,” he answered. ”My love is not so thin-skinned as to shrink from any test. Only try me!”
”Then get me away from this place,” she cried, ”far, _far_ away from it. But, mind, it will not be so easy as you think.”
”Are you held against your will?” demanded Paul.
”No, _no_! You can not understand it. But I could not go alone. I will explain it to you some time, but not now. There is no hurry.”
”Is Ah Ben anxious to keep you?” inquired Henley.
”On the contrary, he wishes me to go. You can not understand me, as I am quite different from other girls. Only take my word for what I tell you; and when the time comes, you will not desert me, will you?”
There was something wildly entreating in her manner and the tones of her voice, and a pathos which went to Henley's heart. What it all was about he could no more imagine than he could account for any of the mysteries at Guir House; but he was determined to stand by Dorothy, come what might.
Suddenly the girl had become quiet, rapt in some new thought. In another minute she placed her hand lightly upon Paul's shoulder, and said:
”Remember, you have promised!”
”I have promised,” answered Paul. ”Is there anything more?”
”Yes,” said Dorothy.
She paused for a minute, as if what she were about to say was a great effort.
”Well,” he continued, ”after I have got you safely away--which, by the by, does not seem such a difficult task, as no one opposes your going--but, after we have escaped together, what further am I to do?”
”Naturally, I feel great delicacy in what I am about to say,” said Dorothy; ”but since you have told me that you love me, it does not seem so hard, although you do not know who or what I am--but, to be candid and frank with you, dear Paul, after you have gotten me away--why, you must marry me!”
Paul s.n.a.t.c.hed her up in his arms.
”My darling!” he said, ”you are making me the proudest man on earth!”
”Do not speak too soon,” said Dorothy, releasing herself from his grasp. ”Remember I have told you frankly that you do not know me.
Perhaps I am driving a hard bargain with you!”
For a moment Paul became serious.
”Tell me, Dorothy,” he asked, in an altered tone, ”have you, or Ah Ben, or any member of your mysterious household or family, any crimes to answer for? Is there any good reason why I, as an honest man, should object to taking you for my wife?”
She turned scarlet as she answered:
”Never! There is no such reason. There is nothing dishonorable, I swear to you--nothing which could implicate you in any way with wrong-doing. No, Paul; my secret is different from that. You could never guess it, nor could I ever compromise you with crime.”
Her manner was sincere, and carried conviction to the hearer of the truth of what she said.
”It is time we were going to the house,” she added, rising, with the parrot still upon her shoulder; and side by side they retraced their steps along the woodland way homeward.
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