"Cool, really!" said the captain. "Cool! Ha! ha! —"
And he laughed, till I wondered what I could have said to
amuse him so much.
"Then you have learned to individualise soldiers already?" was
his next question, put with a look which seemed to me
inquisitive and impertinent. I did not know how to answer it,
and left it unanswered; — and the captain and I had the rest
of our dance out in silence. Meanwhile, I could not help
watching Faustina. — She was so very handsome, with a marked,
dashing sort of beauty that I saw was prodigiously admired.
She took no notice of me, and barely touched the tips of my
fingers with her glove as we passed in the dance.
As he was leading me back to Mrs. Sandford, the captain
stooped his head to mine. "Forgive me?" — he whispered. "So
much gentleness cannot bear revenge. I am only a soldier."
"Forgive you what, sir?" I asked. And he drew up his head
again, half laughed, muttered that I was worse than grape or
round shot, and handed me over to my guardian.
"My dear Daisy," said Mrs.
Pages:
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520