"Listen, Mr. Renault. I understand that his Excellency has certain designs upon your amiability, and he most earnestly desires you to remain here at the Blue Fox until such time as he summons you or sends you orders. You are an officer of Tryon County militia, are you not?"
"Only ensign in the Rangers, but I never have even seen their colors, much less carried them."
"You know Colonel Willett?"
"I have that very great honor," I said warmly.
"It is an honor to know such a man. Excepting Schuyler, I think he is the bravest, noblest gentleman in County Tryon." He walked toward the door, head bowed in reflection, turned, offered his hand again with a charming freedom, and bowed himself out.
Pride and deepest gratitude possessed my heart that his Excellency should have found me worthy of his august commendation. In my young head rang the words of Colonel Hamilton. I stood in the center of the sunny room, repeating to myself the wonderful message, over and over, until it seemed my happiness was too great to bear alone; and I leaned close to the dividing door, calling "Elsin! Elsin! Are you awake?"
A sleepy voice bade me enter, and I opened the door and stood at the sill, while the brightly flowered curtains of her bed rustled and twitched. Presently she thrust a sleepy head forth, framed in chintz roses--the flushed face of a child, drowsy eyes winking at the sunbeams, powdered hair twisted up in a heavy knot.
"Goodness me," she murmured, "I am so hungry--so sleepy--" She yawned shamelessly, blinked with her blue eyes, looked at me, and smiled.
"What o'clock is it, Carus?" she began; then a sudden consternation sobered her, and she cried, "Oh, I forgot where we are! Mercy! To think that I should wake to find myself a runaway! Carus, Carus, what in the world is to become of me now? Where are we, Carus?"
"At the Blue Fox, near North Castle," I said gaily. "Why, Elsin--why, child, what on earth is the matter?"--for the tears had rushed to her eyes, and her woful little face quivered. A single tear fell, then the wet lashes closed.
"O Carus! Carus!" she said, "what will become of me? You did it--you made me do it! I've run away with you--why did you make me do it? Oh, why, why?"
Dumb, miserable, I could only look at her, finding no word of comfort--amazed, too, that the feverish spirit, the courage, the amazing energy of the night before had exhaled, distilling now in the tears which dazed me.
"I don't know why I came here with you," she whimpered, eyes closed on her wet cheeks--"I must have been mad to do so. What will they say?--what will Rosamund say? Why don't you speak to me, Carus? Why don't you tell me what to do?"