Page:Hornung - Irralies Bushranger.djvu/56

 breakfast to look for the lost overcoat. They returned before lunch without it; nor was Irralie surprised. She had known exactly what to expect; and anticipated with confidence the like result of a cognate quest, undertaken by the store-keeper, who had gone with the spring-cart to meet the mail and to bring back the new owner's luggage.

"I only hope it's there," he said to her, with deep meaning,

"I only hope so too!" she replied, with a deeper yet.

"Then in ten minutes you won't know me: I shall be shaved and clothed and in my right mind."

"You are certainly not in it now."

"Indeed?"

"Or you would never tempt Providence as you are doing!"

And the girl turned on her heel, loathing herself for the unpremeditated warning, and him for the inexplicable attraction which compelled the words in her own despite. Then for Irralie it was the night all over