"
"I don't see why I sit here and let you talk to me like that," she said,
feeling the symptoms of collapse. "You have not been fair with me,
Baldos. You are laughing at me now and calling me a witless little
fool. You--you did something to-day that shakes my faith to the very
bottom. I never can trust you again. Good heaven, I hate to confess
to--to everyone that you are not honest."
"Your highness!" he implored, coming close to the chair and bending over
her. "Before God, I am honest with you. Believe me when I say that I
have done nothing to injure Graustark. I cannot tell you what it was
that passed between Ravone and me, but I swear on my soul that I have
not been disloyal to my oath. Won't you trust me? Won't you believe?"
His breath was fanning her ear, his voice was eager; she could feel the
intensity of his eyes.
"Oh, I don't--don't know what to say to you," she murmured. "I have been
so wrought up with fear and disappointment. You'll admit that it was
very suspicious, won't you? "she cried, almost pleadingly.
"Yes, yes," he answered. His hand touched her arm, perhaps
unconsciously. She threw back her head to give him a look of
rebuke. Their eyes met, and after a moment both were full of
pleading. Her lips parted, but the words would not come. She was
afterwards more than thankful for this, because his eyes impelled her to
give voice to amazing things that suddenly rushed to her head.
Pages:
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201