His face flushed a dull red. “You know better than that,” he said. “I would stop if I could be of any use, but what is there I can do?”
“Why do you want to leave?”
“I want to get away from here—I want to get out of the hills for awhile.”
Mary knew, as well as if he had told her, that what he wanted was to go where he could forget her and see whether absence would break the chain; and triumph lit up her eyes, for it was pleasant even in the midst of her troubles to know that he still cared. Then she came to a swift decision.
“Will you do something for me away from the hills, then?” she said.
“Where?”
“Up North. I want some one to find that man Considine that your brother and Mr. Carew met. You know how important it is to me. Will you do it for me?”
Hugh would have jumped at the chance to risk his life for her lightest wish.
“I will go anywhere and do my best to find anyone you want,” he said; “When do you want me to start?”
“See Mr. Pinnock and your brother about that. They will tell you all about it; and if you do manage to find this man, why, you can talk about leaving after that if you want to. Will you go for me?”