Part 7 (1/2)
Cora, with her brother and his guests, went up stairs, but soon came down, her face flaming.
”What's the matter?” asked Belle.
”Oh, Jack! I don't believe he's ill at all!” she stormed. ”It's only an excuse to escape college.”
”What did he do?” asked Bess, slyly.
”Said Walter and Harry might--kiss me!” and Cora's face flushed.
”And--er--did they?” asked Belle.
”Belle Robinson! If you--well!” and Cora closed her lips in a firm line.
Her mother smiled.
”Perhaps we had better go up and see Inez,” suggested Mrs. Kimball.
”Yes, do!” urged Cora, eager to change the subject.
The lace seller was sitting up in bed, and the white lounging gown that had been put on her, in exchange for her simple black dress, made her seem the real Spaniard, with her deep, olive complexion.
She smiled at the sight of the girls.
”Pardon, Senoritas!” she murmured, as Cora and her chums entered the room. ”I am so sorry that I give you ze trouble. It is too bad--I am confused at my poor weakness. But I--I--”
”You needn't apologize one bit!” burst out Cora, generously. ”I'm sure you need the rest.”
”Yes, Senorita, I was weary--so very weary. It is good--to rest.”
”I think you had better have a little more broth,” suggested Mrs.
Kimball. ”Then Dr. Blake will be here, and can say whether it would be wise to give you something more solid. You must have been quite hungry,” she added, gently.
”I--I was, Senora--very hungry,” and taking the hand of Mrs. Kimball in her own thin, brown one, the girl imprinted a warm kiss on it.
”Do you feel well enough to talk?” asked Cora. ”These are my friends. They expect to go to Sea Horse Island soon. You mentioned that, just before you fainted, and--”
”Yes, Senorita, I did. Oh! if I could find someone to take me zere--I would do anyzing! I would serve zem all, my life--I would work my fingers to ze bare bones--I would--”
A flood of emotion seemed to choke her words.
”We'll help you all we can,” interrupted Cora. ”Why are you so anxious to go there?”
”Because my father--my dear father--he is prisoner zere, and if I go zere, I can free him!” and the girl clasped her hands in an appealing gesture.
CHAPTER VI
THE MYSTERIOUS MAN
For a moment Cora and the Robinson twins looked alternately at one another, and then at the figure of the frail girl on the bed. She seemed to be weeping, but when she took her hands down from her eyes, there was no trace of tears in them--only a wild, and rather haunting look in her face.