Part 112 (1/2)
”Of course--of course, dear.”
”Then say no more to me about communicating with home.”
Louise was silent gain, beaten once more by her brother's arguments in her desire to see him redeem the past.
”Harry,” she said at last, after her brother had been standing with his cheek pressed against the window pane, looking down the street in search of the expected visitor.
”Well?”
”Has it ever occurred to you that Mr Pradelle is trying to keep us here?”
”Absurd!”
”No; I feel sure it is so, and that he does not want us to go away. Let me take my bracelets and necklet to one of those places where they buy jewellery or lend money.”
”You?”
”Yes. Why not?”
”Are you mad?”
”No. Why should I not sell what is my own?”
”Can you not understand?” cried Harry, whose voice sounded harsh from the mental irritation which had given him the look of one in constant dread of arrest.
”No, dear, I cannot. I want to help you. I want to get away from here--to remove you from the influence of this man, so that we may, if it must be so, get abroad and then set them at rest.”
”Now you are bringing that up again,” he cried angrily.
”I must, Harry, I must. I have been too weak as it is; but in the excitement of all that trouble I seemed to be influenced by you in all I did.”
”There, there, little sis,” he said more gently. ”I ought not to speak so crossly, but I am always on thorns, held back as I am for want of a few paltry pounds.”
”Then let me go and dispose of these things.”
”It is impossible.”
”No, dear, you think of the degradation I should not be ashamed. We have made a false step, Harry, but if we must go on, let me do what I can to help you. Let me go.”
”But the beggarly disgrace. You don't know what you are going to undertake.”
She looked at him with her frank, clear eyes.
”I am going to help you. There can be no disgrace in disposing of these trinkets for you to escape.”
”Ah! at last!” cried Harry, leaving the window to hurry to the door, regardless of the look of dislike which came into his sister's face.
”Is that Mr Pradelle?” she said shrinkingly.
”Yes, at last. No, Louy, I'm bad enough, but I'm not going to send you to the p.a.w.nbroker's while I stop hiding here, and it's all right now.”