The very opposite was what gave her courage to serve me.

I had no false conception as to this; no vagrant thought that her interest in me was any more than a passing fancy, born of sympathy, and a desire to aid.

Nevertheless, as she had thus already served me, I now owed her service in return, and here was the first call.

If conditions made it possible it was my plain duty to place myself between these two.

I felt no hatred toward the man, no desire to do him a personal injury; but I did dislike and distrust him.