Like one wild with terror, Ida hurried back to the carriage and re-entered it.
"Home!" she said; and old Joe was surprised at the sound of her voice, it was so unnatural.
"What Royal Ainsley told me is indeed too true!" she said to herself, with an inward moan. "He has possession of my little child. Only Heaven knows how he will use his power to crush me, and the fair, sweet, innocent babe as well!"
It seemed to her as though the very thought of it would drive her mad. She knew she was in his power, and that he would certainly use that power to extort every dollar from her that he possibly could. And then, when there was no more money to be gained, what would he do?
She avoided Eugene Mallard during the next few days, lest he should repeat the question he had asked when he last talked with her.
He watched her in wonder. Her apparent coyness amused as well as surprised him.
"There is no way of understanding women," he said to himself. "To-day they are eager for something; to-morrow they will not have it!"
He was surprised when he received a message from her one day, asking him if she could see him alone in the library.
He sent back a reply in the affirmative, and awaited her coming with some curiosity, no doubt entering his mind as to what she wished to say.
It was some time before she put in an appearance. He was not aware of her presence, he was gazing so intently out of the window, until she stood by his side.