Yet now, as she turned again toward me, her eyes were moist with tears.
"You are a strange man, Geoffrey Benteen," she said gently, and, I know not how, yet both her hands found way to mine.

"I scarcely comprehend your nature, or gauge your purposes--you are so unlike all others I have known.

Yet this I am assured; you are of honest heart, and I trust you wholly." "You will not return to the town ?" "I abide with you, and with my husband." Her voice faltered to that last word, yet she spoke it bravely.
"It will be better so," I assented.

"Better for us all." We slept late, undisturbed, in secure retreat among the trees, the vast river chanting its endless song on either side of us.

During the evening meal, partaken of amid the gathering shadows of twilight, our newly discovered friend again evidenced his power as a trencherman.
"_Sacre_!" ejaculated De Noyan in dismay.