He was aware of an instantaneous loss of heart, a subsidence of
the elation which had upheld him throughout the adventure; and to
escape this, to forget or overcome it, took immediately to his
heels, scampering madly for the road, oppressed with fear lest he
should find the girl gone--with the jewels.
That she should prove untrue, faithless, lacking even that honor
which proverbially obtains in the society of criminals--a
consideration of such a possibility was intolerable, as much so as
the suspense of ignorance. He could not, would not, believe
her capable of ingratitude so rank; and fought fiercely,
unreasoningly, against the conviction that she would have followed
her thievish instincts and made off with the booty.... A judgment
meet and right upon him, for his madness!
Heart in mouth, he reached the gates, passing through without
discovering her, and was struck dumb and witless with relief when
she stepped quietly from the shadows of a low branching tree,
offering him a guiding hand.
"Come," she said quietly. "This way."
Without being exactly conscious of what he was about he caught the
hand in both his own. "Then," he exulted almost passionately,--
"then you didn't----"
His voice choked in his throat. Her face, momentarily upturned to
his, gleamed pale and weary in the dreary light; the face of a
tired child, troubled, saddened; yet with eyes inexpressibly
sweet. She turned away, tugging at her hand.
"You doubted me, after all!" she commented, a trifle bitterly.
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