ct, drunken
and half idiotic."

Mr. Strafford looked at her in wonder and trouble. How could he say to a
daughter, "You have described your father?" But he felt sure she had
done so; and he saw that she guessed it also.

Mrs. Costello had covered her face with her hands; and there was a
minute's silence. She was the first to break it.

"We must go at once then," she said. "But how to get away from here
without a little delay I do not know."

They wondered that she should speak so, knowing how great her terror of
discovery was; but she was thinking of Maurice, and of their last
conversation, of his father left in her charge, and of his grief and
perplexity if they should go away out of his knowledge, while he was
absent, and trusting to them.

Mr. Strafford saw, though he did not understand her hesitation.

"It may be worth while," he said, "for me to run the risk of being seen,
and go to-morrow to the employer of these men. Nobody thinks of
questioning my right to make any inquires I please about Indians, so
that I can easily find out the truth, if you are willing to face the
possibility of my meeting Christian, and drawing his attention to you."

Mrs. Costello thought for a moment.

"I thank you," she said. "I wish very much for a little delay if
possible. At the worst, if you do meet him, it will be only hasty
flight. Can you be prepared for that, Lucia?"

"In an hour, mamma, if necessary. I only wish now to be far away from
here."

Her mother's look rested on her sadly. "I do but ask for the delay of a
week or two," she said.

But next day, when Mr. Strafford made his inquiry, he brought back news
that three or four weeks' delay might be perfectly safe. Christian was,
indeed, in the lumberer's employ, but the gang to which he was attached
had started for the woods, and would not return for a month. By that
time it would be easy to leave the Cottage without hurry, and without
attracting unnecessary attention.

CHAPTER XII.

"Going away? Nonsense, Elise; you are joking. The very idea of Mrs.
Costello going away from Cacouna!"

"She _is_ going at any rate, to my sorrow, she and Lucia both; for six
months at least, they say."

Mrs. Bellairs and her sister were together again, and Bella, though she
was getting used to be called Mrs. Morton, and to see the wedding-ring
on her finger, was not at all sobered yet by her matronly state, but
might have passed perfectly well for Bella Latour. She and