"Next?"
Eliot Van Zandt explained:
"I mean, what shall we do when we have brought her away? Where shall we find her a refuge and hiding-place from her treacherous enemies?" anxiously.
"You cold-blooded, long-headed Yankee! I never thought of that. I should have brought her away without thinking of the future. But you are right. It is a question that should be decided first. What, indeed, shall we do with the girl?"
And for a moment they looked at each other, in the starlight, almost helplessly.
Then Van Zandt said, questioningly:
"Perhaps you have relatives or friends with whom you could place her? I am not rich, but I could spare enough to educate this wronged child."
"I have not a relative in the world—not a friend I could trust; nothing but oceans of money, so you may keep yours. I'll spend some of mine in turning this little savage into a Christian."
"You will take her to school, then, right away?" Van Zandt went on, in his quiet, pertinacious way.
"Yes; and, by Jove, when she comes out, finished, I'll marry her, Van Zandt! I will, upon my word!"