Loscombe's experience. Every
motive of which she was conscious was a motive which urged her to leave
the house secretly while the chance was at her disposal. She looked out
into the passage, and called softly to old Mazey to come back.
"I accept your offer thankfully, Mr. Mazey," she said. "You don't know
what hard measure you dealt out to me when you took that letter from my
hand. But you did your duty, and I can be grateful to you for sparing me
this morning, hard as you were upon me last night. I am not such a bad
girl as you think me--I am not, indeed."
Old Mazey dismissed the subject with another dreary wave of his hand.
"Let it be," said the veteran; "let it be! It makes no difference, my
girl, to such an old rascal as I am. If you were fifty times worse than
you are, I should let you go all the same. Put on your bonnet and shawl,
and come along. I'm a disgrace to myself and a warning to others--that's
what I am. No luggage, mind! Leave all your rattle-traps behind you: to
be overhauled, if necessary, at his honor the admiral's discretion. I
can be hard enough on your boxes, you young Jezebel, if I can't be hard
on you."
With these words, old Mazey led the way out of the room.
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