"No," changing her manner instantly--"what is the use? I married the man, but I was deceived, misled. There was no conspiracy in which I was concerned. I did not know where you were; from then until this afternoon I never saw or heard of you. Molly told me of her rescue by a soldier named Hamlin, but I never suspected the truth until we drove by the barracks. Then I yielded to my first mad impulse and sent that note. If you felt toward me with such bitterness, why did you come here? Why consent to meet me again?"
"My yielding was to a second impulse. At first I decided to ignore your note; then came the second consideration--Miss McDonald."
"Oh," and she laughed, "at last I read the riddle. Not satisfied with saving that young lady from savages, you would also preserve her youthful innocence from the contamination of my influence. Quite noble of you, surely. Are you aware of our relationship?"
"I have heard it referred to--garrison rumor."
"Quite true, in spite of your source of information, which accounts, in a measure, for my presence here as well as my intimacy in the McDonald household. And you propose interfering, plan to drive me forth from this pleasant bird's nest. Really you amuse me, Mr. Sergeant Hamlin."
"But I have not proposed anything of that nature," the man said quietly, rising to his feet. "It is, of course, nothing to me, except that Miss McDonald has been very kind and seems a very nice girl. As I knew something of you and your past, I thought perhaps you might realize how much better it would be to retire gracefully."
"You mean that as a threat? You intend to tell her?"
"Not unless it becomes necessary; I am not proud of the story myself."
Their eyes met, and there was no shadow of softness in either face. The woman's lips curled sarcastically.
"Really, you take yourself quite seriously, do you not? One might think you still Major of the Fourth Texas, and heir to the old estate on the Brazos. You talked that way to me once before, only to discover that I had claws with which to scratch. Don't make that mistake again, Mr. Sergeant Hamlin, or there will be something more serious than scratching done. I have learned how to fight in the past few years--Heaven knows I have had opportunity--and rather enjoy the excitement. How far would your word go with Molly, do you think? Or with the Major?"
"That remains to be seen."
"Does it? Oh, I understand. You must still consider yourself quite the lady-killer. Well, let me tell you something--she is engaged to Lieutenant Gaskins."