"No, no, I don't mean that he will hurt me," she cried, a fierce little note in her voice.

"I would kill him before that! I'm sorry I told you.

But you must not question me.

You shall not!" She was trembling.

He had never seen her excited like that before, and as she stood there before him, he knew that he was not afraid for her in the way that had flashed into his mind.