But 'the way of the transgressor is hard,' Mr. Le Noir, and
he who sins must suffer."
For about three weeks their seemingly accidental meetings continued
in this silent manner, so slowly did Craven make his advances. Then,
feeling more confidence, he made a considerably long step forward.
One day, when he guessed that Capitola would be out, instead of
meeting her as heretofore, he put himself in her road and, riding
slowly toward a five-barred gate, allowed her to overtake him.
He opened the gate and, bowing, held it open until she had passed.
She bowed her thanks and rode on; but presently, without the least
appearance of intruding, since she had overtaken him, he was at her
side and, speaking with downcast eyes and deferential manner, he
said:
"I have long desired an opportunity to express the deep sorrow and
mortification I feel for having been hurried into rudeness toward an
estimable young lady at the Forest Chapel. Miss Black, will you
permit me now to assure you of my profound repentance of that act
and to implore your pardon?"
"Oh, I have nothing against you, Mr. Le Noir. It was not I whom you
were intending to marry against my will; and as for what you said
and did to me, ha! ha! I had provoked it, you know, and I also
afterwards paid it in kind. It was a fair fight, in which I was the
victor, and victors should never be vindictive," said Cap, laughing,
for, though knowing him to have been violent and unjust, she did not
suspect him of being treacherous and deceitful, or imagine the base
designs concealed beneath his plausible manner.
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