“The supper is nearly ready at the fire over there, Madam. Will you and the young lady join the colonel and his guest there, or will you have your tea brought here?”
“We will join the colonel’s party, Abershaw,” said Corsoni’s wife.
“Alberta, you will do as you please; but as for me, I will starve sooner than break bread in Albert Goldsborough’s detestable company!” indignantly exclaimed Elfie.
Abershaw turned with an involuntary gaze of amazement at the enraged girl; for he, like most of the men, naturally supposed the young lady to be the willing companion of her lover’s flight.
But Alberta calmly replied:
“Very well, Abershaw. You hear what Miss Fielding says. Bring our suppers here.”
The man bowed and turned away.
“I am sorry if I have disconcerted you, Alberta; but if my life depended on my doing so, I could not eat and drink with that dastardly kidnapper!” said Elfie.
“It does not matter much to me, dear. Let’s drop the subject for the present. We will speak of it presently,” said Alberta, who was stooping over and examining the contents of the bundle that Abershaw had brought.
It proved to contain a supply of pillows, clean sheets and blankets, from Alberta’s press in the old plantation house.