“But she has a man with her. Lord Torrington said—”
“If you can call that thing a man,” said Priscilla, “she has. That’s her husband. She’s run away with him and got married surreptitiously, like young Lochinvar. People do that sort of thing, you know. I can’t imagine where the fun comes in; but it’s quite common, so I suppose it must be considered pleasant. Anyhow Sylvia Courtney says that English literature is simply stock full of most beautiful poems about people who do it; all more or less true, so there must be some attraction.”
Frank made no reply. Priscilla’s theory was new to him. It seemed to have a certain plausibility. He wanted to think it over before committing himself to accepting it.
“It’s not a thing I’d care to do myself,” said Priscilla. “But then people are so different. What strikes me as rather idiotic may be sweeter than butter in the mouth to somebody else. You never can tell beforehand. Anyhow we can count on Aunt Juliet as a firm ally. She can’t go back on us on account of her principles.”
This was another new idea to Frank. He began to feel slightly bewildered.
“The one thing she’s really keen on just at present,” said Priscilla, “is that women should assert their independence and not be mere tame parasites in gilded cages. That’s what she said to Lady Torrington anyhow. So of course she’s bound to help us all she can, so long as she doesn’t know that they’re married, and nobody does know that yet except you and me. Not that I’d be inclined to trust Aunt Juliet unless we have to; but it’s a comfort to know she’s there if the worst comes to the worst.”
“What do you intend to do?” said Frank.
“Find them first. If we start off early tomorrow well probably get to Curraunbeg before they’re up. My idea would be to hand over the young man to Miss Rutherford for a day or two. She’s sure to be somewhere about and when she understands the circumstances she won’t mind pretending that he, the original spy, I mean, is her husband, just for a while, until the first rancour of the pursuit has died away. She strikes me as an awfully good sort who won’t mind. She may even like it. Some people love being married. I can’t imagine why; but they do. Anyhow I don’t expect there’ll be any difficulty about that part of the programme. We’ll simply tranship him, tent and all, into Jimmy Kinsella’s boat.”
“I don’t see the good of doing all that,” said Frank.
“Why not——?”