“Now listen, mother——”
“I’ll not listen; go to bed at once, I am made absolutely miserable by your behaviour.”
As the orchard was about the extent of a pocket handkerchief and comprised four trees; and the bench we sat upon was against the side of the house and immediately under Mrs. Joseph’s window, Muriel and I could not see the dreadfulness of our behaviour, and these scenes annoyed us and made us feel like children who had been treated with injustice.
One day we decided to put an end to the uncomfortable condition of things by running away and getting married.
How we expected to escape, I certainly cannot explain, for we took an express train in broad day at about three o’clock in the afternoon. A score of people must have seen us depart, but we counted somewhat, I think, on the very audacity of the performance and believed all that was necessary was to get away on the train. It was a childish escapade, conceived in ignorance of everything in the world except the infatuation for each other which made it necessary for us to be together at all costs. Our elders drove us to it by ill-advised chatter, badgering and baiting. All we desired was a little trust, some kindness and liberty; failing these, we decided to make our own life.
CHAPTER IX
My brilliant scheme, born of want of foresight and knowledge of the world, was to go to Boston, where I had some friends, and start life humbly as a music teacher. Muriel was quite ready to face the future with me, which was much to the credit of her courage and to my credit as a lover. We were quite unaware of how watchful mother Joseph and her ready tool, Lizette, had been, and that Doctor Joseph had been telegraphed to before we started. Being ignorant of these things, we set off with but scanty preparation in the way of personal effects, and but little money.
We travelled second class, which we thought was very cunning, when of course it was mere stupidity; for we were far more noticeable in a second class coach than we ever should have been in first class. It really did not matter much, as it happened, because a detective was on our trail very soon after our train was out of sight of Riviere du Loup.
We were happy and confident for a matter of perhaps four hours, when a male person came and sat immediately opposite us. He was an ordinary-looking individual, with a face like a mask; but it was quite evident that we were objects of interest to him. After a short time he opened conversation with me by asking me if I was Mr. Wesblock. I replied that my name was Wesblock, and knew at once what was coming.
“Well, I presume,” said this stranger, “that the lady with you is Miss Joseph. I am Detective Pfhal. I just happened fortunately to be on this line. I have a telegram in my pocket from Doctor Joseph instructing me to conduct the lady home, which I will do, if you have no objections.” And he smiled at the idea of any objection I might make.