"Ferris," she said. "Do you wish to be led out by the hired men?"
The lad laughed, and the hideous merriment set the white-haired lady's nerves on edge. "Oh, I am going now, but, for once, let us be honest. It was for her I did it, and if it had been any other man I had injured, she would have forgiven me."
Then with an ironical farewell he swung out of the room, and the two women exchanged glances when the door closed noisily behind him. Miss Barrington was flushed with anger, but her niece's face was paler than usual.
"Are there men like him?" she said.
Miss Barrington shook off her anger, and rising, laid a gentle hand on her niece's shoulder. "Very few, I hope," she said. "Still, it would be better if we sent word to Dane. You would not care for that tale to spread?"
For a moment the girl's cheeks flamed, then she rose quietly and crossed the room.
"No," she said, and her aunt stood still, apparently lost in contemplation, after the door swung softly to. Then she sat down at the writing table. There was very little in the note, but an hour after Dane received it that night, a wagon drew up outside Ferris's farm. Two men went quietly in and found the owner of the homestead sitting with a sheaf of papers scattered about the table in front of him.
"Come back to-morrow. I can't be worried now," he said. "Well, why the devil don't you go?"
Dane laid a hand on his shoulder. "We are waiting for you. You are coming with us!"
Ferris turned, and stared at them. "Where to?"