And the Sabbath quiet which had descended on the frost-jeweled city

the morning after the hunt found the Buchanan household still deep in

close-shuttered sleep. Their fatigue demanded and was having its way in

the processes of recuperation and they all slept on serenely.

Only Caroline Darrah was astir with the first deep notes of the early

morning bells. Her awaking had come with a rush of pure, bubbling,

unalloyed joy which turned her cheeks the hue of the rose, starred her

eyes and melted her lips into heavenly curves. In her exquisite innocence

it never dawned upon her that the moments spent in Andrew's arms under

the winter moon were any but those of rapturous betrothal and her love

had flowered in confident happiness. It was well that she caught across

the distance no hint of the battle that was being waged in the heart of

Andrew Sevier, for the man in him fought (for her) with what he deemed

his honor, almost to the death--but not quite, for some men hold as honor

that which is strong sinewed with self-control, red blooded with courage,

infiltrated with pride and ruthlessly cruel.

And so Caroline hummed David's little serenade to herself as she dressed

without Annette's assistance and smiled at her own radiance reflected at

her from her mirrors. She had just completed a most ravishing church

toilet when she heard the major's door close softly and she knew that now

she would find him before his logs awaiting breakfast.

She blushed another tone more rosy and her eyes grew shy at the very

thought of meeting his keen eyes that always quizzed her with such

delight after one of her initiations into the sports or gaieties of this

new country. But assuming her courage with her prayer-book, she softly

descended the stairs, crossed the hall and stood beside his chair with a

laugh of greeting.

"Well," he demanded delightedly though in a guarded tone with a glance

up as if at Mrs. Matilda's and Phoebe's closed doors, "did you catch your

possum?"

"Yes--that is--no! I didn't, but somebody did I think," she answered with

delicious confusion in both tone and appearance.

"Caroline Darrah," demanded the major, "do you mean to tell me that there

is no certainty of anybody's having got a result from a foray of the

magnitude of that last night? Didn't you even see a possum?"

"No, I didn't; but I know they caught some--David said so," answered

Caroline in a reassuring voice.

"Caroline," again demanded the major relentlessly, having already had his

suspicions aroused by her confusion and blushes, "where were you when

David Kildare caught those beasts that you didn't see one?"

"I was--was lost," she answered, and it surprised him that she didn't put

one rosy finger-tip into her mouth, so very young was her further

confusion.




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