"
The captain fastened on her composed countenance, while she was
speaking, a look of open admiration, that brought, though tardily, the
color more deeply to her cheeks: and he answered with something
extremely equivocal, both in his emphasis and his air:
"I have avowed my allegiance, and I will abide by it. So long as Miss
Plowden will deign to bestow her company, so long will she find me among
her most faithful and persevering attendants, come who may, or what
will."
"You compel me to retire," returned Katherine, rising, "whatever may
have been my gracious intentions in the matter; for even female vanity
must crimson, at an adoration so profound as that which can chain
Captain Borroughcliffe to a supper-table! As your alarm has now
dissipated, my cousin, will you lead the way? Miss Alice and myself
attend you."
"But not into the paddock, surely, Miss Plowden," said the captain; "the
door, the key of which you have just turned, communicates with the
vestibule. This is the passage to the drawing-room."
The lady faintly laughed, as if in derision of her own forgetfulness,
while she bowed her acknowledgment, and moved towards the proper
passage: she observed:
"The madness of fear has assailed some, I believe, who have been able to
affect a better disguise than Miss Howard."
"Is it the fear of present danger, or of that which is in reserve?"
asked the captain; "but, as you have stipulated so generously in behalf
of my worthy host here, and of one, also, who shall be nameless, because
he has not deserved such a favor at your hands, your safety shall be one
of my especial duties in these times of peril.
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