There are too many ears here."
Of a sudden she felt like running home. Somehow the situation
broke upon her with a most embarrassing effect. She did not take
Clark's arm, and she began to tremble. He appeared unconscious of
this, and probably was, for his mind had a fine tangle of great
schemes in it just then; but he turned toward his office, and
bidding her follow him, walked away in that direction.
She was helpless. Not the slightest trace of her usual brilliant
self-assertion was at her command. Saving the squad of men sawing
and hacking, digging and hammering, the fort appeared as deserted
as her mind. She stood gazing after Clark. He did not look back,
but strode right on. If she would speak with him, she must follow.
It was a surprise to her, for heretofore she had always had her
own way, even if she found it necessary to use force. And where
was Beverley? Where was the garrison? Colonel Clark did not seem
to be at all concerned about the approach of the British--and yet
those repairs--perhaps he was making ready for a desperate
resistance! She did not move until he reached the door of his
office where he stopped and stepped aside, as if to let her pass
in first; he even lifted his hat, then looked a trifle surprised
when he saw that she was not near him, frowned slightly, changed
the frown to a smile and said, lifting his voice so that she felt
a certain imperative meaning in it:
"Did I walk too fast for you? I beg your pardon, Mademoiselle.
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