The girl’s face suddenly became cold, hard, and unsympathetic. Then it softened, and gave traces of an inward and severe mental struggle; and she spoke swiftly and surely. “You are my father, certainly, but it is better to speak the truth. I have never known you. If I was taken from you by that man,” and she hurriedly indicated her husband, “he had some good reason for it. I see that our aims and motives in life are different. I do not think we could help each other. I am sorry, deeply sorry, but I think you had better go away. I—” She stamped her foot in abrupt anger with herself, but she had lost self-control. The usual flood-gates of passion were open, and wildly and excitedly exclaiming, “Oh, please go away,—please go away!” she threw herself into the big rocking-chair and hid her face against its back.
Captain Fordyce opened the door, and spoke in a low voice to the man as he passed him: “Years ago you abused and tortured the gentle creature who had been kind to me. Do you think I would be such a fool—such a base, senseless fool—as to allow a second victim to fall into your hands?”
The quiet man looked ugly, shrugged his shoulders, and pretended to suppress a yawn. Then he gazed coldly into the livid face confronting him.
“Have you got a sovereign about you? I was in such haste to pursue my fleeing daughter that I left my purse behind me.”
“Here are five pounds for you,” said the other, scornfully, “now get out.”
“I suppose that old warrant for child-stealing might possibly give you some trouble with your employers if I were to bring it up,” continued the stranger, insinuatingly.
“Not a particle. Here’s your boat. Quartermaster, give this man a hand over the side; and tell a boy to be ready in five minutes to go ashore with a note to Prince’s Road.”