"But, Nina, my darling, what can it matter? You will marry me some day soon."
She started so violently that the old stile creaked and bid fair to fall down. The staghound, which had been lying quietly on the grass at their feet, started up, too. Carleigh saw his bared fangs and heard his ugly growl.
"Oh, dear!" he protested, trying to pull her back into her place. "Why, what is it?"
"Don't say it!" she cried, in a tone of violent protest. "Don't! Don't! I'm perfectly willing to play with you at love; but don't speak of marriage.
"When men say that word it always brings me to my senses. I remember, then. The good in me comes back. I get my devil into harness once more. Have I sinned again? Have I fallen into the pit afresh? Does this man really and truly mean what he says? No, no, no! Oh, no!"
He did pull her down, and he got his arm around her.
"Why, love! Why, precious!" he murmured soothingly. "Dear, dear girl! Darling Nina!"
"I don't love you!" she cried vehemently. "I never can love you! I do love one man and I can't love any other. It's no use trying."
And then she was out of his grasp, striking him away as roughly as his other betrayer had done.
Carleigh stood paralyzed. In some ways he was little more than a boy. But--if a boyish heart that had swelled with newborn hope was shrunken suddenly by old, wizened despair--there was at any rate one man-thing about him, for presently he turned his back to her and that ghastly moan--the sob of a suffering man--fell on her ear.
At that Nina came down the two mossy steps and looked at him with curious irresolution, her hand pressed against her lips.
There was a long moment. There was another sob. Then, having drawn close to him, she placed her fingers on his arm.
"What can I do?" she whispered. "I'm so sorry."
He sobbed again. "You can love me," he whispered.
He reached back his arm and pulled her around in front of him. His eyes were shut, his face was wet. He held her hard against his bosom. Their lips met.
The staghound's growl ended the long, dumb seconds. It was provoked by Kneedrock, who was beside them.
Carleigh didn't care in the least. In spite of her struggling he held her fast, and his voice rang almost fiercely as he said: