"I did not go into the full details, but I told you that he
was not responsible for his want of firmness under fire, and that
I knew him in other respects to be a brave man," the Doctor said
uncompromisingly. "Since then you have by your manner driven him away
from you. You have flirted--well, you may not call it flirting,"
he broke off in answer to a gesture of denial, "but it was the same
thing--with a man who is undoubtedly a gallant soldier--a very
paladin, if you like--but who, in spite of his handsome face and
pleasant manner, is no more to be compared with Bathurst in point
of moral qualities or mental ability than light to dark, and this
after I had like an old fool gone out of my way to warn you. You
have disappointed me altogether, Isobel Hannay."
Isobel stood motionless before him, with downcast eyes.
"Well, there, my dear," the Doctor went on hurriedly, as he saw
a tear glisten in her eyelashes; "don't let us say anything more
about it. In the first place, it is no affair of mine; and in the
second place, your point of view was that most women would take
at a time like this; only, you know, I expected you would not have
done just as other women would. We cannot afford to quarrel now,
for there is no doubt that, although we may put a good face on the
matter, our position is one of grave peril, and it is of no use
troubling over trifles. Now run away, and get a few hours' sleep
if you can. You will want all your strength before we are through
with this business.
Pages:
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294