"He does not know why my engagement to Mr.
Feversham was broken off. I do not wish him to know. Your story would
enlighten him, and he must not be enlightened."
"Why?" asked Willoughby. He was obstinate by nature, and he meant to
have the reason for silence before he promised to keep it. Ethne gave it
to him at once very simply.
"I am engaged to Colonel Durrance," she said. It was her fear that
Durrance already suspected that no stronger feeling than friendship
attached her to him. If once he heard that the fault which broke her
engagement to Harry Feversham had been most bravely atoned, there could
be no doubt as to the course which he would insist upon pursuing. He
would strip himself of her, the one thing left to him, and that she was
stubbornly determined he should not do. She was bound to him in honour,
and it would be a poor way of manifesting her joy that Harry Feversham
had redeemed his honour if she straightway sacrificed her own.
Captain Willoughby pursed up his lips and whistled.
"Engaged to Jack Durrance!" he exclaimed. "Then I seem to have wasted my
time in bringing you that feather," and he pointed towards it. She was
holding it in her open hand, and she drew her hand sharply away, as
though she feared for a moment that he meant to rob her of it.
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