"We shall land some time this evening," Louis Hamblin evasively replied, but watching her with curious interest.
Mona gave utterance to a sigh of relief, but did not appear to notice how he had worded his sentence.
She believed that in a few hours more she would forever sever all connections with this bold, bad woman who had been guilty of so much wrong; that she would forever be freed from the society and attentions of her no less unprincipled and disagreeable nephew.
She resolved to go at once to Mr. Graves, then send word to Ray of her return, when she would reveal all that she had learned about herself, and all her troubles would be over. There was now no reason why she should not become his wife as soon as he desired.
She lay back in her chair and closed her eyes, thus signifying to Mr.
Hamblin that she did not wish to continue their conversation.
He moved away from her, but continued to watch her covertly, smiling now and then to himself as he thought of the developments reserved for her.
When the sun began to decline Mona arose to return to her stateroom, but she was still so weak she could not walk steadily.
The young man sprang at once to her side.
"Let me help you," he cried, offering his arm to her.
She was obliged to take it, much as she disliked to do so, and he assisted her to the door of her stateroom, where, touching his hat politely, he left her.