She raised her head with the attitude of one prepared
for a spring and flight. It was so dark she could scarcely see her hands
before her, but as the step approached, a voice said:
"Fear nothing, Marian, I have not lost sight of you since you left me,"
and Thurston came up to her side.
With a glad smile of surprise Marian turned to greet him, holding out
her hand, expecting him to draw it through his arm and lead her on. But
no, he would not touch her hand. Lifting his hat slightly, he said:
"Go forward if you please to do so, Marian. I attend you."
Marian went on, and he followed closely. They proceeded in silence for
some time. Now that she knew that he had not left her a moment alone in
the woods, she felt more deeply grieved at having so mortified and
offended him. At last she spoke:
"Pray, do not be angry with me, dear Thurston."
"I am not angry that I know of, fair one; and you do me too much honor
to care about my mood. Understand me once for all. I am not a Dr.
Grimshaw, in any phase of that gentleman's character. I am neither the
tyrant who will persecute you to exact your attention, nor yet the slave
who will follow and coax and whine and wheedle for your favor. In either
character I should despise myself too much," he answered, coolly.
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