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"You thought perhaps my step-mamma was in the secret?" said the voice of a new comer. All eyes were turned toward the library, where Madeline Payne stood, clad in a walking dress, and looking fairly radiant with suppressed excitement. "You misjudge my step-mamma, Aunt Ellen." As she speaks, Madeline advances toward the silent group, leaving the library door ajar.
"You see, step-mamma," said Madeline, as they lingered over their dessert, "I was never ignorant of what was going on here. My old nurse kept me informed. When I sent you the fiction of my death, I had no intention of returning, for I had determined never to live at Oakley during my step-father's reign.
Do go to your room and rest before dinner. Mr. Davlin, at what hour do you dine?" He explained their reason for dining so early, and she said, as she turned again to Cora, "Do lie down, step-mamma; there is still a half-hour before dinner. And now I will go look after my maid."
My maid ran away a week ago, after robbing me and nearly killing me with chloroform." "Mercy, what a wretch! What have you done with her?" "We have not found her." "Did you look?" "Yes; detectives are looking for her now." "Well, I hope they will find her. Now I am ready; come, step-mamma." And together the two descended the stairs.
Le Guise aware that my step-papa believes me to be dead?" she asked. Cora and the Professor looked dubiously at one another for an instant. Then the former, seeing her cue in the face of the latter, said: "He is not." "Well, step-mamma, I am going up to see him soon, and, on second thought, it will be best to have the doctor inform him of my resurrection." Cora nodded.
Old Hagar had closed the door after her young mistress; and now she stood near it, calm and immovable as a block of ice. Madeline Payne stood, for a moment, gazing laughingly into the amazed face of the spinster. Then she said: "Come, come, Aunt Ellen, don't stare at me as if I were a ghost! Introduce me to your friends. Is this lady my new step-mamma?"
The truth was that Lucian, not feeling upon safe ground, had advised the "doctor" to keep discreetly out of the way of this shrewd young lady for the present, lest her keen questions should draw out something not to their advantage. Miss Payne turned to Cora again. "You have perfect confidence in the skill of this doctor, step-mamma?"
"A witch," said the girl, demurely. "I am as old as the world, and can fly through the air on a broomstick, so don't think to escape me again, step-mamma. I trust you will enjoy your brief repose, for it will soon be morning, and if I don't see your fair face at the breakfast table, I shall not be content."
Madeline moved to leave the room, saying, with a return to her former manner: "Good-night, step-mamma; try and go down to breakfast with me in the morning, won't you?" Without waiting for a reply, she opened the door and swept across the hall, and Cora heard her door close behind her. Not deigning a single glance at Strong, Cora sat tapping her foot upon the carpet and reviewing the situation.
An ordinary fee is too little to offer you, considering what you have undertaken. I don't know what terms my step-mamma has made with you, but I will volunteer to double her price. You will be amply remunerated, and must consider the house and everything in it at your disposal, so long as you keep your patient safe, and do not permit him to do any mischief."
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