Page:Lady Barbarity; a romance (IA ladybarbarityrom00snai).pdf/106

 this baker's son was as greatly at his ease as ever. I laughed and said: "Sir, you should reserve your judgment of my qualities until you see them underneath the candelabra instead of underneath the moon. But I think you will admit, sir, that I am one who should be strong enough to shield herself against the State if necessary."

"Madam," says he, and his proposal staggered me, "I will put my life in your hands once more on this condition: that you swear solemnly upon oath that you shall run no danger in my affair."

Was anything more delightfully or more boyishly naïve? I fear that I should have betrayed some laughter had he not worn a face of gravity, that said my word would have been unaccepted had I given him reason to suppose I was not equally as serious as he.

"Swear," says I, "of course I'll swear. There is not the remotest peril in the case." I think it was a miracle that choked my mirth back.

"Very well," says he, with a boon-conferring air, "I will remit myself entirely to your hands."

"'Tis very good of you to do so," says I, remarkably relieved, yet even more amused. "And now then follow me, sir, and I will take you into safety."

But alas! we had tarried over long. Escape was now cut off. I had no sooner stepped outside the stable than I fled back in such a haste of fear that I nearly fell into the arms of the fugitive, who was obediently following. For the soldiers had arrived