"Oh, Mrs. Murdock, in this deep desolation I find some comfort in your faith in me!"
"And sae I dinna believe a word the fause knave Frisbie says. And neither does auld Cuthbert, honest man! But wae's me, me leddy, whate'er our convictions may be, we canna disprove the lees o' yon de'il."
"No, we cannot," said Claudia, with a sigh of despair; "and unless
Providence intervenes to save me, I am lost."
"Aweel, me leddy, ye maun just hope that he will intervene. Na, na, dinna greet sae sairly!" the good woman entreated, for Claudia had burst into a flood of tears, and was weeping bitterly.
This refreshed her spirit and cleared her brain. Presently, wiping her eyes and looking up, she said:
"Mrs. Murdock, I cannot meet those wretches at breakfast. Send me some coffee; and order the carriage to be at the door in an hour; also send Sally, who must be at hand by this time, to help me pack."
The dame went on this errand, and after a short absence returned, bringing Claudia's breakfast on a tray.
"Where is Sally?" inquired Lady Vincent, as the housekeeper arranged the breakfast on a little table.
"She hanna come yet, me leddy," said the housekeeper, who remained and waited on Lady Vincent at breakfast.
Claudia could eat but little. To all her own sources of trouble was now added alarm, on account of Sally. What if the hapless girl had shared old Katie's fate? was the question that now began to torture her.