She returned him a grateful reply, in the affirmative; and he quitted
her, to rouse his men for their journey to the hermit's cell.
When he re-entered, he found Helen braiding up the fine hair which had
so lately been scattered by the elements. She would have risen at his
approach, but he seated himself on a stone at her feet. "We shall be
detained here a few minutes longer," said he; "I have ordered my men to
make a litter of crossed branches, to bear you on their shoulders.
Your delicate limbs would not be equal to the toil of descending these
heights, to the glen of stones. The venerable man who inhabits there
will protect you until he can summon your family, or friends, to
receive his charge."
At these words, which Helen thought were meant to reprove her for not
having revealed herself, she blushed; but fearful of breathing a name
under the interdict of the English governors, and which had already
spread devastation over all with whom it had been connected; fearful of
involving her preserver's safety, by making him aware of the persecuted
creature he had rescued; she paused for a moment, and then, with the
color heightening on her cheeks, replied: "For your humanity, brave
sir, shown this night to a friendless woman, I must be ever grateful;
but not even to the hermit may I reveal my name.
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