Page:Joan, the curate.djvu/298

292 Tom saw you with—with—her in your arms! You kissed her, once, twice, thri-i-i-ce! And—and when you told me you cared not for her! Nay, sir!" She drew herself erect, and looked at him with a challenge in her eyes.

"Deny it if you can. You know you dare not, you cannot!"

"Most certainly I do not deny that I held Ann Price in my arms, nor that I did kiss her, as you say. And, if you hold that I did wrongly in suffering the caprice of a dying woman, why, madam, I must tell you that 'tis you that err, not I."

"But—but—but she had sworn you should kiss her!" whimpered Joan, falteringly. "Gardener Tom told me so."

"Madam, could I help that? She was sick to death, as you know. Whether 'twas for affection, which I doubt, or for spite, or for some other motive, I could do naught but that which I did. I will neither deny the action, nor excuse myself for it: since there was naught to be done but humor her."

Joan looked at him through her tears; but although she still endeavored to maintain her