"Were you not going to say 'who are engaged?'"
"If I had, I might not have said the truth, _strictly_."
"Oh, in Heaven's name, tell me the truth! Are you engaged?"
"Ask me no questions, and I'll tell thee no lies."
"You are cruel; you are trifling with me!"
She stopped and looked up quickly into his eyes. For a moment she hesitated, then resolutely said:
"Mr. Gunther, I like you very much. Don't talk to me like this. I want to find pleasure in your society, but I shall not if you talk so to me. I am not and have never been cruel, and it never entered my head to trifle with you--never!"
"Forgive me this time. I shall never offend again."
He looked so distressed that Mercedes felt very sorry for him. She would have comforted him if she could. They walked in silence a few steps, but as he still looked pale, she did not wish the other ladies to see him. They were walking towards the house. Pointing to a narrow path leading towards the seashore, she said:
"That path goes to your boat-house, I suppose."
"Yes. I have a new boat; would you like to see it?"
"Not a second longer unless you wish it."
"Come," said she, turning quickly into the little path, and he followed her. She did not care a straw to see the boat, but she wanted to give him time to get back the color to his face. She walked so fast down the hill; she almost ran. She looked back; he was following close. She began to laugh and started to run. He ran after her, and they did not stop until they got to the beach.
"How long is it since we started?" she asked. He looked at his watch.
"I beg your pardon for running, obliging you to run, but I felt like it when I saw the blue water. It reminded me of home, of San Diego."
"No apology is needed. If it gave you pleasure to run, I am glad you did so."
"One look only, and then we must go back. Perhaps we had better return; I hear horses coming," she said, and at the same time Mr. Selden and his youngest sister came down by the boat-house at a gallop. His face flushed and became pale, but he lifted his hat as he passed. Gunther did the same, in answer to Miss Selden's salutation.
"Let us return. More riders might be passing," said Mercedes, and began to walk back.
"It will be dark inside the house. I'll come some other time, earlier."