Then Charles would have to be produced from the background.

It was a terrible undertaking to think of, and she almost regretted her temerity in wedding so hastily that morning.

The rage of her father would be so crushing; the reproaches of her mother so bitter; and perhaps Charles would answer hotly, and perhaps cause estrangement till death.

There had obviously been no alarm about her at St.Maria's, or somebody would have sailed across to inquire for her.

She had, in a letter written at the beginning of the week, spoken of the hour at which she intended to leave her country schoolhouse; and from this her friends had probably perceived that by such timing she would run a risk of losing the Saturday boat.