“Oh, if I could hide myself away from him somewhere until St. George’s return,” she moaned.
She had a subtle presentiment that Otho’s persecutions would ruin her life if his nefarious plans were not balked.
“Oh, I must hide myself from that black-hearted wretch!” she sobbed, sitting up on the couch, and gazing wildly around.
She saw that she was quite alone, the attendant having gone to hasten the physician whose duty it was to attend to her case.
The thought of Suicide Place came to her like an inspiration, and she sighed to herself that all its horrors were not equal to Otho Maury’s relentless pursuit.
She staggered to her feet and found herself unhurt. The long swoon had been the result of the shock of fear.
Pursued by fear and unrest, Floy fled wildly from the hospital, and as she had on her person the five dollars given her by Mrs. Banks, she made use of it to return to Mount Vernon.
That night she rested in the haunted house, that, with its evil repute, seemed to offer her a refuge from despair.
Here, during the two weeks while the search for her went on, Floy rested safe from pursuit.
But her adventurous spirit drove her forth at last to inquire of the letter-carrier about the mail she had expected to receive from Beresford. Without acquainting him with her hiding-place, she pledged him to secrecy over her visit, and obtained from him the information that Miss Maury had intercepted her letters.