Pagina 232 van 416

"Why do you hate Nat Burns so? You couldn't have told me that if

you hadn't hated him."

Elsa looked up from her book impatiently, quite oblivious to the

wound she had caused.

"Because I was very fond of that girl!" she said, and went back

to the translation of the message. Suddenly she sprang to her

feet with a little cry of dismay and rang the bell.

"Annette!" she cried. "Annette!" The maid rushed in, frightened,

from the adjoining room.

"Tell Charles I am going to St. John's to-morrow, and to have the

carriage at the door at half-past six. Pack my steamer trunk

immediately. Great guns! Why isn't there a night boat?"

The maid flew out of the room, and Elsa, still doubtful,

retranslated the message. Mrs. Tanner, taken aback by these

sudden activities, rose hurriedly to go. This sudden flurry was

inexplicable to her. Since the departure of the fleet Elsa had

not as much as hinted leaving Freekirk Head. Now, in a moment,

she was beside herself to go.