And still Mollie sat there, watching the shining stars
creep out, and still the fairy bark floated lazily with the drifting
current. She could have sat there and watched him forever--her noble,
gallant Hugh! But by and by, as the night wind grew chill, the little
white boat, glided away and disappeared.
The entrance of Mrs. Sharpe, with her night-lamp, aroused Mollie from
her trance. She turned eagerly round to greet her. Next to Hugh Ingelow,
her hope now was in this mysterious woman.
Mrs. Sharpe closed the door carefully after her, set the lamp on the
table, dropped the curtain, and then turned her face to Mollie. One look
at that face told Mollie something had occurred.
"What is it?" she asked in a breathless whisper.
And Susan Sharpe, bending down, whispered hurriedly:
"Doctor Oleander is here."
Mollie barely repressed a cry. Susan Sharpe caught her, in alarm, by the
shoulder.
"Hush! Are you crazy? Not a word. Yes, he's down-stairs--came half an
hour ago. Don't look so frightened--he won't trouble you this time."
"This time," repeated Mollie, noticing the emphasis.
Pages:
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311