"If I tell you something," she began, "you won't never tell anybody?"
"Never, if you don't want me to."
She leaned forward and looked straight at him.
"I just lied to Sister Ann," she said.
Horace's face paled and he grasped the arms of his chair. Presently he asked sharply: "Why did you lie to my sister, Fledra?"
"I just did, and you said you wouldn't tell."
"Was it because you lied to her that you cried?"
She tossed his question over in her mind. She intended to be truthful to him, unless a falsehood were forced from her to shield Ann.
"I cried because Sister Ann was so good to me."
"Are you going to tell me what caused you to be untruthful?" he asked persistently.
Fledra shook her head dismally.
Immeasurable compassion for the primitive, large-eyed child flooded his soul, and his next words assumed a more tender tone.
"Of course, you don't mean that you are going to keep it from me?"
Her dark head suddenly dropped again, and a smothered storm of sobs drew him closer to her. In the silence of arrested speech, he reached for her fingers, which were twisting nervously in the webby lace on her dress. With reluctance Flea permitted herself to be drawn from her chair.
"Fledra, stand here--stand close to me!" said he.
Obediently she came to his side, hiding her face in one bended arm. He could feel the warmth of her bursting breaths, and he could have touched the lithe body had he put out his hand. And then--and not until then--did Horace know that he loved her. Yesterday she had seemed only a child; but at this moment she was transformed into a woman, and his sudden passion gave him a lover's right to pass his arm about her. In bewilderment Flea checked her tears and drew back. He had never before caressed her in any way.
Horace stood up, almost mastered by his new emotion.
"Fledra," he breathed, "Fledra, can't you trust me? Dear child, I love you so!"
Stunned by his words, Fledra stared at him. His voice had vibrated with something she had never heard before. His eyes were brilliant and pleading.
"Fledra, can't you--can't you love me?"
As if by strong cords, her tongue was tied.
"Listen to me!" pursued Horace. "I know now I loved you that first night I saw you--that night when you came into the room with Ann's--"