Meanwhile, she was asking
herself, "What would they do to me if all was found out?" and
sustaining herself by the thought, "Whatever they do to me, they
can't reach Lieutenant Scoville."
It was gall and bitterness to Whately to find her talking affably to
Maynard, but before the meal was over she had the address to disarm
him in some degree. For his own sake as well as hers and the
family's she thought, "I must not irritate him into hasty action. If
he should find out, and reveal everything, no matter what happened
to me, he would bring everlasting disgrace on himself and relatives.
I could at least show that my motives were good, no matter how
soldiers, with their harsh laws, might act toward me; but what
motive could excuse him for placing me, a young girl and his cousin,
in such a position?"
Whately had already satisfied himself that no pretence of zeal for
the service could conceal his real motive or save him from general
scorn should he speak of the mere conjectures of a man like Perkins.
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