The heart of Katharine was one of deep-seated tenderness, and it may not
be easy to describe the shock which the intelligence gave her. She did
not hear him through without ejaculations of horror, sufficiently
fervent and loud to provoke the glance of her mother, who did not,
however, though turning her looks frequently upon the two, venture upon
any inquiry, or offer any remark. The girl heard her lover patiently;
but when he narrated the catastrophe, and told of the murder of the
guard, she no longer struggled to restrain the feeling, now too strong
for suppression. Her words broke through her lips quickly, as she
exclaimed--
"But you, Mark--you had no part in this matter--you lent no aid--you
gave no hand. You interfered, I am sure you did, to prevent the murder
of the innocent men. Speak out, Mark, and tell me the truth, and relieve
me from these horrible apprehensions."
As she spoke, her small hand rested upon his wrist with a passionate
energy, in full accordance with the spirit of her language.
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