She dropped her hands and stared at him.
"I don't know. Do you think you could? It all seems so—like a bad dream. I'll have to tell you about it if you are to help me—won't I?"
"If you think it best," he said with an inward quiver.
"That's it. I don't know whether it is best to ask your advice. Yet, I don't know exactly what[235] else to do," she added in a bewildered way, passing one hand slowly over her eyes. "Shall I tell you?"
"Perhaps you'd better."
"I think I will!... I—I left New York in a panic at a few moments' notice. I thought I'd go to Ormond and hide there for a while, and then, if—if matters looked threatening, I could go to Miami and take a steamer for the West Indies, and from there—if necessary—I could go to Brazil——"
"But why?" he demanded, secretly terrified at his own question.
She looked at him blankly a moment: "Oh; I forgot. It—it all began without any warning; and instantly I began to run away."
"From what?"
"From—from the owner of that overcoat!"