"Very good," she said insolently, "Bring her if you like. But I have said all, so I will go."
"When shall I come to the yacht?"
"Captain Kyles will let you know," and she vanished.
[CHAPTER XXIV]
STARTLING NEWS
Herries brought Maud back to the "Moated Hall," and delivered her into the hands of Mrs. Mountford. The girl recovered herself wonderfully on the journey, but said very little. All the time in the train she sat huddled in her corner of the compartment, and eyed Angus in a most spiteful manner. Her cousin saw the look and wondered what was in her mind. Had he known he might not have pitied her as he did. As it was, he felt truly sorry for the miserable girl. By her own foolishness, she had forfeited a fortune, she had been deserted by the man whom she had striven to take from another woman, and had lost her father by a violent death. Had not Maud troubled her head over the buccaneer's good looks, her father would never have made a second will; he would never have gone to the "Marsh Inn" to meet his death. For all the terrible things that had happened, Maud had only herself to blame. Yet she talked of Fate, and bemoaned herself as the most unfortunate creature in the world. Many people cheat themselves in the same way.
However, Mrs. Mountford saw that she was really getting ill and that her nerves were in a terribly excited state. She, therefore, sent her at once to bed when Herries brought her back, and remained alone in the drawing-room with the young man.
"I know that Maud went to the 'Marsh Inn' in response to an invitation from Señora Guzman," she said gravely, "but I did not expect that you would bring her back, Mr. Herries."
"I was there also," he replied, quietly, "I went to meet Mr. Gowrie and found Señora Guzman instead. Maud got into trouble."
"With that woman?"