Elfie drank her tea and then began the story of her captivity.
As she spoke of the spy in the camp of the Free Sword, Erminie nodded her head several times with a look of comprehension; but she made no comment in words.
When Elfie came to speak of her forced marriage she wept with anger and mortification; but Erminie assured her, as Justin had done before, that the marriage was null and void in law.
“Marriage is mutual consent, Elfie, and there was no mutual consent there,” she urged.
“You may be right, or you may be wrong, Erminie. I shall take counsel of both clergymen and lawyers before I venture to decide a question in which my honor is concerned. I would rather be a wretched wife than an erring woman anytime. But let me go on with my story. Ah, Heaven! the worst is behind! There were greater sufferers than myself in it!”
“Justin?” anxiously exclaimed Erminie.
“I told you before that he was alive and well. Have you forgotten that?”
“Who then?”
“Alberta! poor, poor Alberta!”
“You spoke of her just now. Of course she could not have been otherwise than most wretched in the life she led, poor woman! But I hope no greater misfortune overtook her!” said Erminie.