Part 38 (1/2)

”I refuse.”

She had all the natural cravings of a woman and a wife, but so thoroughly was she aware of the treachery of the man she had to deal with, that she dreaded lest, as soon as he had touched the ransom, he would dispose of her husband altogether.

There was a short silence.

”You will write that letter,” said Negoro.

”Never!” repeated Mrs. Weldon.

”Remember your child!”

Mrs. Weldon's heart beat violently, but she did not answer a word.

”I will give you a week to think over this,” hissed out Negoro.

Mrs. Weldon was still silent.

”A week! I will come again in a week; you will do as I wish, or it will be the worse for you.”

He gnashed his teeth, turned on his heel, and left the hut.

CHAPTER XIV.

A RAY OF HOPE.

Mrs. Weldon's first feeling on being left alone was a sense of relief at having a week's respite. She had no trust in Negoro's honesty, but she knew well enough that their ”marketable value” would secure them from any personal danger, and she had time to consider whether some compromise might be effected by which her husband might be spared the necessity of coming to Kazonnde. Upon the receipt of a letter from herself, he would not hesitate for a moment in undertaking the journey, but she entertained no little fear that after all perhaps her own departure might not be permitted; the slightest caprice on the part of Queen Moena would detain her as a captive, whilst as to Negoro, if once he should get the ransom he wanted, he would take no further pains in the matter.

Accordingly, she resolved to make the proposition that she should be conveyed to some point upon the coast, where the bargain could be concluded without Mr. Weldon's coming up the country.

She had to weigh all the consequences that would follow any refusal on her part to fall in with Negoro's demands. Of course, he would spend the interval in preparing for his start to America, and when he should come back and find her still hesitating, was it not likely that he would find scope for his revenge in suggesting that she must be separated from her child.

The very thought sent a pang through her heart, and she clasped her little boy tenderly to her side.

”What makes you so sad, mamma?” asked Jack.

”I was thinking of your father, my child,” she answered; ”would you not like to see him?”

”Yes, yes; is he coming here?”

”No, my boy, he must not come here.”

”Then let us take d.i.c.k, and Tom, and Hercules, and go to him.”

Mrs. Weldon tried to conceal her tears.

”Have you heard from papa?”

”No.”

”Then why do you not write to him?”