The Master of the Ceremonies Part 81

Cora did not condescend to reply, but stepped forward as if to walk back.

"We are many miles from Saltinville, Miss Dean," said Linnell, "and a post-chaise will be here soon."

Further conversation was prevented by James Bell whispering hurriedly:

"It's all a mistake, Mr Linnell, and the consequences will be terrible if I am found to have taken the Major's horses. Can you do without me?"

"Yes," said Linnell quickly; "but your master?"

"I can't think of him, sir," said Bell hastily. "I must think of myself. Gentlemen, I thought we were chasing another lady whom I would have given my life to save. I stood by you; will you stand by me?"

"Yes," said Mellersh quickly. "Take the horses back. I'll stay by your master till help comes."

"And you will not tell upon me about the horses, gentlemen?"

"No," said Mellersh shortly. "Go."

"And you, Mr Linnell?"

"You may trust me," was the reply.

Bell went off with the horses on the instant, and a tedious time of waiting ensued, the end of which was that it was arranged when the fresh post-chaise came that Mellersh should ride with Cora and the injured man back to the posting house, Linnell walking by the side of the chaise.

On reaching the inn, Rockley was placed in the landlord's care, with instructions to fetch a medical man, and the three afterwards had a perfectly silent ride back to Saltinville, where Mrs Dean was found sitting up in a high state of excitement, and ready to greet her daughter:

"Lor! Bet--Cora--you have give me a turn. I thought it was a real elopement, and now you've come back."

"Well, d.i.c.k," said Mellersh grimly, as they stood together in the latter's room. "What do you think of it now?"

"I think I've been a fool," said Linnell shortly; "but I can't quite make it out."

"Neither can I," responded Mellersh, after a pause.

Volume Two, Chapter XXVIII.

UNDER A THICK CLOAK.

"You'll be so glad to hear, my dear," prattled on Mrs Barclay, who was exceedingly warm and happy. "There's quite a reconciliation, my dear."

"Reconciliation?"

"Yes, dear. Young Cornet Denville has just fetched her to take her round the grounds, which is just as it should be, you know. I'd have gone with them, but I'm afraid of the night air, and catching a bad cold, you see, and so I think it's better not to risk taking a chill, and--"

"Who fetched her--Cornet Denville?"

"Yes, my dear, her brother; and I've been thinking--"

"Don't talk, Mrs Barclay," cried Cora quickly--"don't talk, pray, only tell me which way she went."

"Through that door, my dear, and on to the lawn. You'll catch 'em if you make haste. Bless us and save us, what is the matter with her? Any one would think poor Claire had run off with her young man. Dear, dear!

what a blessing to be sure," sighed Mrs Barclay complacently, as she fanned herself, "to have one's own Jo-si-ah, and no troubles of that kind now."

Cora was gone--out through the window and on to the gra.s.s. There were couples here and there in the dim light, but not those she wished to see, as she stood pa.s.sing her large lace scarf over her head.

"What shall I do?" she moaned; and in frantic haste she ran down the first path she came to, feeling more and more sure that she was wrong; but directly after she found that this crossed a broad gra.s.s path at right angles; and as she reached it she uttered a gasp, for there was a couple coming down towards her, and she felt rather than saw that it was those she sought.

They were close upon her, coming between the bushes, and Morton was talking loudly, with the thick utterance of one nearly inebriated, while Claire was answering in a troubled way.

"Very sorry," he said slowly, "sorry, little sis. Love you too much not to 'pologise, but--man's position--as officer and a gentleman--"

"Yes, yes, dear, you've said so before."

"And I must say you--Hallo! Who's thish?"

"Claire!" cried Cora, in a low whisper. "Back to the house--quick!"

"Miss Dean!"

"Yes. Quick! For heaven's sake. Go. Your father."

Cora did not know it, but she had touched the right chord.

Claire had seemed startled at first, and had hesitated as they stood together in the darkness with Morton holding the new-comer's arm; but as Cora exclaimed, as the place of safety Claire was to seek, "your father!" the thought flashed through Claire's brain that he had had some terrible seizure--or, worse, that horror of which he was in dread had come upon him, and in an instant, she had turned and run back towards the house.

"Why, what the d.i.c.kensh--I say, what's matter?" stammered Morton.

"Here, Miss Dean, I know you--you know--bu'ful Miss Dean. Proud of your company. Officer and a gentleman--and take my--"

It was so cleverly done that Cora was taken by surprise. She was about, as the simplest way out of the difficulty, to take the lad's arm, and walk back with him to the house, when there was a slight rustle behind her, the sound of a blow or fall, and the latter m.u.f.fled and strange, for a great cavalry cloak was thrown over her head, twisted tightly round her, binding her arms to her side, and stifling the cry she uttered; and as she struggled fiercely for her liberty she was lifted from her feet and borne away.

It was all done so quickly that she was staggered, and she had not recovered from her confusion when she felt herself forced into a carriage--the chaise, evidently, of which she had heard. Then came the banging of a door as she was held back by two strong arms, the swaying and jerking of the chaise as it went over rough ground and ruts. Then she realised that it swayed more than ever as they turned on to a hard road, and she could hear the dull, smothered rattle of the wheels and the tramp of horses' feet.

She was a woman of plenty of strength of mind; but, for the time being, the fact of having fallen into this trap laid for Claire stunned her, and she felt a depressing dread. But by degrees this gave place to her returning courage, and she struggled furiously, but found that she was tightly held, and a deep voice she knew kept on bidding her to be patient--not to be alarmed--and the like.

In the midst of her excitement she ceased struggling and lay back in the corner of the chaise thinking, for the adventure had now a.s.sumed a ludicrous aspect. It was dramatic--a scene that might have happened in a play, and she laughed as she thought of Major Rockley's rage and disappointment when he realised his mistake.

"I'm not afraid of him," she thought, "and I hate him with all my heart.

It is only waiting till we stop, and then the tables will be turned."

"Ah, that's more sensible," came through the thick cloak. "Promise to be patient and not call out, and I will take off the cloak."

It was very hot. She could hardly breathe, but she dreaded having it removed till she recalled how dark it was; that it must be even darker, shut up in the chaise, and that she had on her large lace mantilla, with which she could well cover her face.

"Shall I take off the cloak?" was said, after they had stopped and changed horses; and, feeling that she must have air, she made a gesture with her hands, pa.s.sing them up towards her face as she felt the great cloth-covering partly removed, and, as it was drawn away, carefully covering her face and neck with the scarf.

"At last!" exclaimed her companion, trying to pa.s.s his arm round her, but she struck at him so fiercely that he desisted, and just then the chaise slackened speed.

"What is it?" he cried, gripping his prisoner's arm with one hand, as he leaned forward and let down a front window.

"Like us to go on as fast as this, Captain? Road's getting a bit hilly."