This time Everett answered with heart-rending deliberateness:
"You're mistaken, Ann. Your paragon got out of the window when you were all asleep," Ann's sudden pallor disturbed the lawyer only an instant, and, not heeding her clutch on his arm or a pained ejaculation from her, he proceeded, "and went to her father. He told me this. Ann, don't be stupid. Don't totter that way. Sit down, here, child. No, don't push me away.... Well, as you please!"
"Oh, you seem so heartless about it," gasped Ann, "when you know how Horace loves her!"
Miss Shellington did not notice the smile that crossed his lips as he looked down at her, or the triumph in his eyes when he said:
"But, Ann, I've told you only what you've asked of me. I think you're rather unkind, Dear."
"I don't intend to be," she moaned, leaning back and closing her eyes. "Oh! she was with us so long! What shall I say to Horace?"
"Didn't you say he was out of town?"
"Yes, for four or five days," Ann put the wrong meaning to Everett's deep sigh, and she finished; "but I'm going to send for him."
"And, pray, what can he do? The girl is gone, and that ends it."
"But Horace might ascertain if she had been forced to go."