"What have you done with that girl?" demanded he.
"Hold on a moment till I dress myself," I replied, as I jumped out of bed, and began to put on my clothes.
CHAPTER VII.
IN WHICH ERNEST HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. TOM THORNTON.
FROM my perch over the bay window of the library, I had heard Tom Thornton express his savage determination to crush out of me the information he wanted. Being forewarned, I was in a measure forearmed, and I did not intend to be caught in a vulnerable position. I decided to do a little light skirmishing before the battle opened. What I had seen and heard of my assailant gave me a wonderful self-possession, for which I could not account to myself.
I hurried on my clothing, though I dressed myself with the expectation of taking a cruise on the lake before my head rested on the pillow again. Though I felt that it was my first duty to protect Kate Loraine, and send her to a place of safety, I fully realized that I had a battle of my own to fight. By their own confession, Tom and his father had wronged me deeply. If my mother was still living, as I believed she was, they had probably wronged her a hundred fold more than me. With these thoughts and feelings, an impulse of desperation seemed to inspire me. I was ready for anything, but I was astonished and amazed at my own calmness.
"Do you think I'm going to wait all night for an answer?" demanded Tom, gruffly, before I had half finished dressing myself.
"If I am to give the answer, I expect you will wait till I get ready," I replied.