"There, there!" he said, reassuringly; "don't worry about the future, what is, is enough for today, little girl." He had opened the door for her as though anxious to be alone; she understood, and was almost in the hall when the other door into the library opened, and glancing over her shoulder she saw Judithe standing there gazing after her, with a peculiar look. She glanced up at Kenneth McVeigh, and saw his face suddenly grow white, and stern; then the door closed on her, and those two were left alone together. She stood outside the door for a full minute, amazed at the strange look in his eyes, and in hers, as they faced each other, and as she moved away she wondered at the silence there--neither of them had spoken. They looked at each other as the door closed, a world of appeal in her eyes, but there was no response in his; a few hours ago she meant all of life to him--and now!-- With a quick sigh she turned and crossed to the window; drawing back the curtain she looked out, but all the heavens seemed weeping with some endless woe. The light of the lamp was better, and she drew the curtains close, and faced him again. "You have read--all?" He bent his head in assent. "And Captain Monroe?" "Captain Monroe is at liberty. I have accepted your confession, and acted upon it." "You accept that part of my letter, but not my other request," she said, despairingly. "I begged that you make some excuse and leave for your command at once--today--do you refuse to heed that?" "I do," he said, coldly. "Is it on my account?" she demanded; "if so, put me under arrest; send me to one of the forts; do anything to assure yourself of my inability to work against your cause, though I promise you I never shall again. Oh, I know you do not trust me, and I shan't ask you to; I only ask you to send me anywhere you like, if you will only start for your command at once; for your own sake I beg you; for your own sake you must go!" All of pleading was in her eyes and voice; her hands were clasped in the intensity of her anxiety. But he only shook his head as he looked down in the beautiful, beseeching face. "For your sake I shall remain," he said, coldly. "Kenneth!" "Your anxiety that I leave shows that the plots you confessed are not the only ones you are aware of," he said, controlling his voice with an effort, and speaking quietly. "You are my wife; for the plots of the future I must take the responsibility, prevent them if I can; shield you if I cannot." "No, no!" and she clasped his arm, pleadingly; "believe me, Kenneth, there will be no more plots, not after today--" "Ah!" and he drew back from her touch; "not after today! then there _is_ some further use you have for my house as a rendezvous? Do you suppose I will go at once and leave my mother and sister to the danger of your intrigues?"