Part 58 (2/2)
”Then very likely they will be taking their afternoon nap now?”
”That is very probable.”
”Should I awake them, do you think?”
”If you were going away for a week I should say yes, certainly. But if you like I will explain your absence till Friday.”
”That will be best, I think.” Then, turning to Mr. Harvey, she said: ”Now I am ready. Kitty has gone on ahead, and has taken my few things along with her.”
”I guess Kitty has some shopping to do on the way. That child is never happy unless she is spending money,” and Mr. Harvey smiled, innocently.
”You will explain to Gervase, won't you, Sir Charles?” Madeline said, with one of her sweetest smiles. ”It is unfortunate he did not come home to lunch. I am sure he would have liked to have seen over Mr. Harvey's yacht.”
”We shall probably accept Mr. Harvey's invitation to dinner on your return,” Sir Charles said, pompously.
”Of course you will, Colonel, of course you will,” Peter J. said, with a drawl. ”I never take a refusal from my friends without a very good reason.”
”It is good of you to let me go, Sir Charles,” Madeline said, reaching out her hand to say good-bye. ”But I am sure I shall enjoy myself immensely. You see, I have known Mr. and Mrs. Harvey and Kitty nearly ever since I can remember, and then, I'm tremendously fond of the sea.”
Sir Charles came with them to the door of the hotel and saw them into a carriage, then returned to the lounge and to his cigar.
Madeline could almost have screamed with delight when she found herself once more on the _Skylark_.
”At last I am free,” she said to herself, ”and when Sir Charles sees me again I shall be my own mistress.”
Half-an-hour later the _Skylark_ weighed anchor and put out to sea.
CHAPTER x.x.xII
FACING THE INEVITABLE
When Sat.u.r.day morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious. An hour or two later his worst fears were confirmed. A letter was handed to him in Madeline's handwriting. The postmark, he noticed, was Genoa. He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
The letter was brief and quite explicit. She had no intention, she said, of returning again to Nice or to Cornwall. She was going back to America with the Harveys. For many things she was sorry she ever left it. She had been unhappy for months past--ever since the return of Gervase, in fact. To become his wife was simply impossible. She expressed her regret for any pain or annoyance she had caused, and her thanks for all kindnesses she had received. She regarded the appearance of the Harveys on the scene as an interposition of Providence, and her escape from an intolerable position as a direct answer to prayer.
Sir Charles had not got over the anger and disgust produced by this frank epistle when Gervase came hurriedly into the room, with blanched cheeks and a wild light in his eyes.
”Do you know that Madeline has given us the slip?” he said, in a hoa.r.s.e whisper.
”Have you heard from her also?”
”Then you know?” he questioned, with a gasp. ”What has she said to you?
Let me see her letter.”
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