"I have come to see you, Joseph," said Mr. Ablethorpe; "I have something to say to you which I have been pondering over for a long time."
I began to wonder if he had changed his mind about marrying, and was actually going to ask me for Constantia's hand. This made me feel more "Head of the House" than ever.
But it was something quite different, and Mr. Ablethorpe brought me down to earth again with a whop, as if I had fallen from the store rafters.
"I have been able to arrange about the three poor creatures, Honorine, Camilla, and Sidonia Orrin. They will be in safety with the Good Sisters of the Weak-minded at Thorsby. There is, therefore, no longer any object in withholding from you my confidence. I am morally certain that carrier Harry Foster has been foully murdered, and his body concealed. Further, my dear, dear boy, I fear that I cannot now give you much hope of a different fate for your father——"
"There I differ from you," said I stoutly.
"I am glad to hear it," he said quietly; "but I should like to know the reason of your confidence."
"Because of the message; because my father is so strong and brave; and because—because I am certain he is not dead! And then Elsie!"
He lifted his hand as if to pray me not to go into that question. At this I fired up.
"I have heard many things," he began; "a man in my position does!"
"Never anything against Elsie!" I was heated, and shouted.