I thought
so from the first."
"Oh," she answered, "how can you know that? Besides, he promised that he
would never do it again."
"How can I know that? Why, because Caleb would have been a bigger fool
than I take him for if he had not. And if it rested with me, certainly
he never would do it again. Now be honest with me, if a woman can on
such a matter, and tell me true: are you in love with this Caleb?"
"I--I? In love with Caleb? Of course not. If you do not believe me, ask
Nehushta."
"Thank you, I will be content with your own reply. You deny that you are
in love with him, and I incline to believe you; but, on the other hand,
I remember that you would naturally say this, since you might think that
any other answer would prejudice the cause of Caleb with me."
"With you! What can it matter to you, sir, whether or no I am in love
with Caleb, who, to tell you the truth, frightens me?"
"And that, I suppose, is why you plead so hard for him?"
"No," she answered with a sudden sternness, "I plead hard for him as in
like case I would plead hard for you--because he has been my friend, and
if he did this deed he was provoked to it."
"Well spoken," said Marcus, gazing at her steadily. Indeed, she was
worth looking at as she stood there before him, her hands clasped, her
breast heaving, her sweet, pale face flushed with emotion and her lovely
eyes aswim with tears.
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