“You are very welcome to stay here as long as you please, Mr. Thurley. If my conduct towards you has changed, I hope you will own that it was not without reason.”
“But I think it is,” said he stoutly. “It’s all to your interest that this nest of smugglers should be cleared out; and as for a certain cowardly criminal whom we have had to take up for something worse, why, you have no reason, beyond your natural kindness of heart, to be sorry he has met his deserts.”
Without answering him, and with much dignity, Freda turned to leave the room. But the words he hastened to add arrested her attention.
“To-morrow I have to return to London. Now as there may be scenes in this place not fit for a lady to witness, in the course of breaking up this gang, I intend to take you away with me, and to put you under proper care.”
“Will you send me back to the convent?” asked Freda eagerly.
John Thurley, who had a strong dislike to “popery” frowned.
“No,” he said decidedly, “I can’t do that. But I will undertake to have you well cared for.”
Freda paused one moment at the door, looking very thoughtful.
“Thank you,” she then said simply, as, with her eyes on the floor, she turned the handle; “good-night!”
There was something in her manner which made John Thurley, inexperienced as he was in women’s ways, suspect that she meant to trick him. Therefore, from the moment she left her room on the following morning, she felt that she was watched. Mrs. Bean had evidently gone over to the enemy, being indeed convinced that John Thurley’s plan was a good and kind one. When Freda announced her intention of going to church, the housekeeper said she would go with her. Freda made no objection, though as Mrs. Bean never went to church, her intention was evident. Old Mrs. Staynes was delighted to see the girl, and thanked her for coming.