"Now you know why I have put away your ring. He is too strong for us. I must do as he bids me. I——"
I interrupted her sharply. "Have you everything packed to go away on your visit to Norfolk to-morrow?" I asked.
The tone of my voice roused her. She looked at me wildly.
"Why—why——" she said. Then the expression faded out of her face. For the second time that day she had fainted.
CHAPTER XVIII
IN WHICH THE PIRATE APPEARS IN A FROLICSOME HUMOUR
The fainting fit which terminated my conversation with Evie alarmed me tremendously, and as soon as I could summon assistance I sent for a doctor. She came round before the medical man arrived, but I did not revert to the topic which had agitated her. Indeed, she appeared listless and disinclined to say a word on any subject. Colonel Maitland was less worried than myself, but even he was anxious until after the doctor had seen her and assured him that his daughter was merely suffering from over excitement, and that a sedative and a good night's rest would probably restore her completely.
I was not so sure that such would be the case, and when she had retired I thought it well to take the Colonel into his study and give him as full an account as I could of all that had led up to the fainting fit. He listened to my story with attention, and when I had done, though I could plainly see that he thought his daughter's fears were due to her own morbid fancy, yet he agreed with me that it would be well that she should have a change of scene at the earliest possible moment.