“She shall not die, I repeat!” said the girl, in answer to his astonished gaze.
“Who are you, young woman, who seem to take such an earnest interest in the fate of that unhappy lady?” inquired Malcolm, gently.
“One who is far too deeply in earnest to abandon Eudora Leaton to her unmerited fate; one who will save her despite of judge, jury, gaoler, and sheriff,” replied the visitor.
“Alas! poor girl!” sighed Malcolm, feeling sure that he was in the presence of some compassionate young lunatic.
“See here, Mr. Malcolm Montrose. I am not beside myself although your looks seem to say so; and although, if trouble ever crazed anybody, I should be mad!”
“But who are you, then, young woman, who are so kindly solicitous—”
“What does it matter who I am?” impatiently interrupted the visitor. “I am Annella Wilder, the grand-daughter of Admiral Brunton for his sins! But that is not of the slightest consequence. What is of the utmost importance is my errand here to plan with you the rescue of Eudora Leaton!”
She paused for breath, for all this time she had been speaking with eager, earnest, impassioned vehemence; but as Malcolm still regarded her with a fixed, inquiring, distrustful look, she broke forth again, impatiently:
“Oh, I see you still think I am mad! but I am not. I am only nervous, anxious, and excited; and very conscious of being so! How should I be otherwise? I have slept but little since her conviction, and not at all since the last hope of a respite failed. I have lain awake night after night planning how we might free her. And scheme after scheme has surged through and through my brain, until I have grown almost wild from excitement and loss of sleep. So I scarcely wonder that you think me mad; but surely you must see now that I am not.”
“Young lady, I thank you from the depths of a most grateful heart for the deep interest you take in Miss Leaton, whose misfortunes must be her only claim to your regard; for you are probably a stranger to her, and cannot know the excellence of her character,” said Malcolm.