Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/56

MY LADY OF THE SOUTH form. However, even if it were not, my authority in such time of war is ample."

"Good; then we shall have to dispense with an unnecessary ceremony, and get away as soon as possible. Jean, daughter."

There was no immediate response. A swift hope thrilled through me that she might have already fled, or have hidden herself within the darkened house. If so, what could I do? How could I assist in prolonging the delay? The hospitable Colonel had half forced me back into a vacated chair, and now remained facing me, standing shoulder to shoulder with his son on the upper step. The Chaplain remained seated close upon my left; all about us was latticework, thickly covered with trailing vines. The only way of escape would be by flinging both father and son headlong to the walk below, or perhaps a sudden dash back into the unknown interior. Only sheer desperation would warrant either effort, yet I half turned, but the shadows were so black I could not discern the whereabouts of the door. The Colonel spoke again, his voice growing sterner from authority.

"Jean, we are waiting here for you; Calvert Dunn has come."

I neither saw nor heard her as she came forward; when she answered, her slight figure suddenly appeared standing between her father and the Chaplain, a mere indistinct outline, yet so womanly as to send a sudden thrill to my heart.

"Very well, father; I am here to keep my word with Lieutenant Dunn." [ 48 ]