Cora's mind
was pre-occupied however, and when the Petrel started off, and Jack
asked her where to, she said back to Fern Island.
CHAPTER XXIII
A NIGHT ON THE ISLE
It was too late now for Cora to think of making her way to the pine
hut without the boys, too dark, too late and too uncertain, so she
agreed to allow Ed and Jack to go with her while Walter and the
girls followed at some distance.
"There's a light," announced Jack, when they had covered the first
hill.
"Yes, that's in the hut," Cora said.
Hurrying before her brother, Cora reached the thatched doorway. She
pushed back the screen and saw Laurel leaning over the bed on the
floor. As she entered Laurel motioned her not to speak. Then Cora
saw that the girl was bending over her father.
"They shall not take me," he murmured. "I am innocent!"
"Hush, father dear," his daughter soothed. "'There is no one here,
just your own Laurel," and she bathed his head with her wet
handkerchief.
Cora instantly withdrew. She whispered to Jack, and he turned to
meet the others, to prevent them coming nearer. Laurel followed her
to the open air.
"Father is so changed!" she said under her breath, "while he seems
worse, his mind is clearer, and I almost hope he will soon remember
everything of the past."
"If his mind is clearer there is every hope for him," Cora replied.
"I do hope, Laurel dear, that your exile and his will soon end.
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