He drew her quickly to him in fear, and the coach lurched and turned, and left them facing four pairs of eyes. Miss Taylor reddened; Mrs. ¬ÝGrey looked surprised; Mrs. ¬ÝVanderpool smiled; but Mr. ¬ÝCresswell darkened with anger. The couple unclasped shamefacedly, and the young man, lifting his hat, started to stammer an apology; but Cresswell interrupted him:
‚ÄúKeep your‚ÅÝ‚Äîyour philandering to the woods, or I shall have you arrested,‚Äù he said slowly, his face colorless, his lips twitching with anger. ‚ÄúDrive on, John.‚Äù
Miss Taylor felt that her worst suspicions had been confirmed; but Mrs. ¬ÝVanderpool was curious as to the cause of Cresswell‚Äôs anger. It was so genuine that it needed explanation.
“Are kisses illegal here?” she asked before the horses started, turning the battery of her eyes full upon him. But Cresswell had himself well in hand.
‚ÄúNo,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúBut the girl is‚ÅÝ‚Äînotorious.‚Äù
On the lovers the words fell like a blow. Zora shivered, and a grayish horror mottled the dark burning of her face. Bles started in anger, then paused in shivering doubt. What had happened? They knew not; yet involuntarily their hands fell apart; they avoided each other’s eyes.
‚ÄúI‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI must go now,‚Äù gasped Zora, as the carriage swept away.
He did not hold her, he did not offer the farewell kiss, but stood staring at the road as she walked into the swamp. A moment she paused and looked back; then slowly, almost painfully, she took the path back to the field of the Fleece, and reaching it after long, long minutes, began mechanically to pick the cotton.