I have been talking as if I was a young lady of family and
position. Absurd! We know better than that, don't we, Captain Wragge?
You are quite right. Nobody's child must sleep under Somebody's
roof--and why not yours?"
"This way," said the captain, dexterously profiting by the sudden change
in her humor, and cunningly refraining from exasperating it by saying
more himself. "This way."
She followed him a few steps, and suddenly stopped.
"Suppose I _am_ discovered?" she broke out, abruptly. "Who has any
authority over me? Who can take me back, if I don't choose to go? If
they all find me to-morrow, what then? Can't I say No to Mr. Pendril?
Can't I trust my own courage with Miss Garth?"
"Can you trust your courage with your sister?" whispered the captain,
who had not forgotten the references to Norah which had twice escaped
her already.
Her head drooped. She shivered as if the cold night air had struck her,
and leaned back wearily against the parapet of the wall.
"Not with Norah," she said, sadly. "I could trust myself with the
others. Not with Norah."
"This way," repeated Captain Wragge. She roused herself; looked up at
the darkening heaven, looked round at the darkening view.
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