Just then she gave a gasp, for she saw a stiff, military-looking man, whom she knew to be the regimental surgeon, come up to the door.
It was true, then; and it was all she could do to keep from bursting into an hysterical fit of sobbing.
But a thought came directly that gave her strength, and she felt joy and elation together as she said to herself:
“He found them together, and horsewhipped the Major. Well, so much the better. He can never think of Claire Denville again. If he did—”
She uttered a low unpleasant laugh, as Annie found that she must go back, for she could eat no more cake; and as soon as they were alone Mrs Dean exclaimed:
“Don’t, for goodness’ sake, laugh like that, my dear; it gives me the cold shivers all down my back. It’s just like Metalina in ‘The Haunted Vampire,’ where she takes an oath as she’ll kill her rival or perish in the attempt.”