“Impossible!” was the reply. “If she can't sing, I close.”
Ashmead went back to “The Star.”
Ina was in her bedroom.
He sent in a line, “Can you sing tonight? If not he says he must close.”
The reply came back in rather a trembling hand. “I suffer too much by falsehood to break faith myself. I shall pray till night: and then I shall sing. If I die on the stage, all the better for me.”
Was not this a great soul?
CHAPTER XI.
THAT same morning our English party snatched a hasty breakfast in traveling attire. Severne was not there; but sent word to Vizard he should be there in time.
This filled the cup. Zoe's wounded pride had been rising higher and higher all the night, and she came down rather pale, from broken rest, and sternly resolved. She had a few serious words with Fanny, and sketched her out a little map of conduct, which showed that she had thought the matter well over.