I am a woman, a woman of the South, a soldier's daughter, and am not likely to surrender my heart, my principles, my life before such an assault.

You have taken too much for granted; because I have not wished to hurt you, you have believed my silence indicative of love; you have construed friendship into devotion.

Now it is my turn to speak.

I did like you, and helped you; without doubt I was indiscreet, but I thought only of friendship, supposing we would part then, never to meet again.

Under those circumstances," and her voice faltered slightly, "it may be that I said and did more than I should, enough--well, enough to encourage you.