"I thought," Babbie retorted, trying to speak lightly until she could get away from him, "that you would be glad to see me. Your last words in Caddam seemed to justify that idea."
"I am very sorry to see you," he answered, reproachfully.
"Then I will go away at once," she said, stepping out of the summer-seat.
"Yes," he replied, "you must go at once."
"Then I won't," she said, turning back defiantly. "I know what you are to say: that the Thrums people would be shocked if they knew I was here; as if I cared what the Thrums people think of me."
"I care what they think of you," Gavin said, as if that were decisive, "and I tell you I will not allow you to repeat this freak."
"You 'will not allow me,'" echoed Babbie, almost enjoying herself, despite her sudden loss of self-respect.
"I will not," Gavin said, resolutely. "Henceforth you must do as I think fit."
"Since when have you taken command of me?" demanded Babbie.
"Since a minute ago," Gavin replied, "when you let me kiss you."
"Let you!" exclaimed Babbie, now justly incensed. "You did it yourself. I was very angry."
"I am not allowed to say that even?" asked the Egyptian. "Tell me something I may say, then, and I will repeat it after you."
"I have something to say to you," Gavin told her, after a moment's reflection; "yes, and there is something I should like to hear you repeat after me, but not to-night."
"I don't want to hear what it is," Babbie said, quickly, but she knew what it was, and even then, despite the new pain at her heart, her bosom swelled with pride because this man still loved her. Now she wanted to run away with his love for her before he could take it from her, and then realising that this parting must be forever, a great desire filled her to hear him put that kiss into words, and she said, faltering:
"You can tell me what it is if you like."
"To-night, if at all," the gypsy almost entreated.
"To-morrow, at Nanny's," answered Gavin, decisively: and this time he remembered without dismay that the morrow was the Sabbath.
In the fairy tale the beast suddenly drops his skin and is a prince, and I believed it seemed to Babbie that some such change had come over this man, her plaything.
"Your lantern is shining on my mother's window," were the words that woke her from this discovery, and then she found herself yielding the lantern to him. She became conscious vaguely that a corresponding change was taking place in herself.