`It wouldn't be necessary if you could wait a moment;' and he unwound a cord from the little wheel. She withdrew her own hand, but, whether by accident or design, he touched it. Bathsheba was vexed; she hardly knew why.

His unravelling went on, but it nevertheless seemed coming to no end. She looked at him again.

`Thank you for the sight of such a beautiful face!' said the young sergeant, without ceremony.

She coloured with embarrassment. `'Twas unwillingly shown,' she replied stiffly, and with as much dignity - which was very little - as she could infuse into a position of captivity.

`I like you the better for that incivility, miss,' he said.

`I should have liked - I wish - you had never shown yourself to me by intruding here!' She pulled again, and the gathers of her dress began to give way like lilliputian musketry.

`I deserve the chastisement your words give me. But why should such a fair and dutiful girl have such an aversion to her father's sex?'

`Go on your way, please.'

`What, Beauty, and drag you after me? Do but look; I never saw such a tangle!'

`O, 'tis shameful of you; you have been making it worse on purpose to keep me here - you have!'

`Indeed, I don't think so,' said the sergeant, with a merry twinkle.

`I tell you you have!' she exclaimed, in high temper. `I insist upon undoing it. Now, allow me!'

`Certainly, miss; I am not of steel.' He added a sigh which had as much archness in it as a sigh could possess without losing its nature altogether. `I am thankful for beauty, even when 'tis thrown to me like a hone to a dog. These moments will be over too soon!'

She closed her lips in a determined silence.

Bathsheba was revolving in her mind whether by a bold and desperate rush she could free herself at the risk of leaving her skirt bodily behind her. The thought was too dreadful. The dress - which she had put on to appear stately at the supper - was the head and front of her wardrobe; not another in her stock became her so well. What woman in Bathsheba's position, not naturally timid, and within call of her retainers, would have bought escape from a dashing soldier at so dear a price?

`All in good time; it will soon be done, I perceive,' said her cool friend.

`This trifling provokes, and - and--'

`Not too cruel!'

` - Insults me!'

`It is done in order that I may have the pleasure of apologizing to so charming a woman, which I straightway do most humbly, madam,' he said, bowing low.

Bathsheba really knew not what to say.

`I've seen a good many women in my time,' continued the young man in a murmur, and more thoughtfully than hitherto, critically regarding her bent head at the same time; `but I've never seen a woman so beautiful as you. Take it or leave it - be offended or like it - I don't care.'


  By PanEris using Melati.

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