"I hope they are. That a girl should defend a lover, even when he has stained his hands with blood, seems incredible."
"It would seem incredible if such a thing occurred. I have no lover and consequently cannot come under your condemnation."
"Do you deny that August Bordine is your lover?"
"Certainly I do."
"Then I have been misinformed."
"Doubtless you have. Busybodies are ready to make any assertions, however false," said Rose calmly.
There certainly was nothing to be gained here, so the eager young man took his departure.
In the meantime where was August Bordine?
Safe under the care of the eccentric Hiram Shanks, and not once had he ventured into Grandon. He followed implicitly the instructions of the peddler, who evinced intelligence beyond his appearance.
When the young man learned that his mother was under arrest, he insisted on visiting her at once, although he was yet ill in bed, for the fever clung to him for many days, and weakened his strong frame so that he had scarcely more strength than a child.