rather to the kindness of yourself and Mademoiselle Norah, than
to the gifts they receive."

"I do not choose to be called Mademoiselle Norah," the girl said,
tossing her head. "I am Irish on both sides, and have not a drop
of French blood in my veins. To strangers I am Miss Norah O'More;
to you, and to any I may love, I am plain Norah."

"I don't think that you can be that to anyone, Norah."

"Now I don't like that, Colonel Campbell. That may do at the court
of Louis XIV, but not at the chateau of la Villar, and if you
are going to pay compliments I shall be stiff and unpleasant, and
shall insist upon being addressed as Miss Norah O'More."

"As I did not mean to compliment you, for I spoke but the truth,
I shall not accept the penalty. Now," he went on, "unromantic as
it may sound, I own that I am hungry, and I am sure that my four
followers are also, for we have ridden far and fast, and have not
stopped, save to bait our horses and snatch a mouthful while they
ate, since daybreak. In truth the news we received made me sorely
anxious, though I felt sure that MacIntosh could hold the chateau
against any attack that was likely to be made on it."



CHAPTER XIX: THE PEASANTS' REVOLT


After eating a meal Hector had a talk aside with MacIntosh.