Untouched by his child's words, Delancey turned away, every vein swelling with the wrath which he could not conceal.
"I'll teach you both to carry on your private dealings with dastardly clerks. Back to your room, and leave this heap of bloody flesh and rags for the negroes to care for."
"Shame on you, papa. No! I shall not leave her for a moment. With regard to this poor child, your authority is as naught to me."
"That remains to be seen," returned Mr. Delancey, in his cold, deep tones; and, stepping to the stairhead, he called Voltaire to his presence.
At this moment Minny drew a long, shivering sigh, looked up, and met her mistress's tearful gaze with a smile.
"They are safe, Miss—all safe; he could not get them," she whispered, faintly.
"Hush, Minny, darling. Oh, you have suffered so terribly for my sake! This is dreadful, dreadful!"
"Anything for you, Miss Della, anything."
Della's only answer was a closer pressure of that young form to her heart.