"But Mr. Vondy—he has been so good—I may stop and thank him?"
"He won't be there. I'll give him your message."
"But mother—if I'm going so far away I must say good-bye to her."
"No, I'm sorry, the steamer will sail immediately."
She looked again into his agitated face and then, raising her voice, she said,
"Mr. Stowell, you are deceiving me. I have not been pardoned. You are helping me to escape."
"Hush!"
But (again in a loud voice) she cried,
"Don't lie to me any longer. Tell me the truth."
He hesitated for a moment, and then he told her. Yes, he was helping her to escape. He had tried to procure her pardon and failed, so he had determined to set her free.