“You are safe here, at least for the present,” he said. “Young Butler has taken this house under his protection from some kindness to the landlady; but your sister Jane will endanger everything. Clark has escaped to Wilkesbarre; he must not rest there—Butler would burn every house in the village to reach him. Tell your sister to be in readiness for instant flight. I will seek for Edward Clark, bring him here, and perform the marriage ceremony, that they can depart in company, and join the unhappy fugitives that are now in the mountains.”
Mary arose at once.
“We will be ready,” she said, with quiet firmness.
“No, not you, or the old lady; for you, there is no danger.”
“But my sister?”
“She will be with her husband, and I have need of you.”
A faint flush rose to Mary’s cheek. Spite of danger and death, her heart would betray its secret in that delicate color.
“I have great need of you, for we must seek out that strange lady together.”
Her eyes brightened.
“Seek her? can we ever hope to know who she is, and why she affects every one so strangely?”