"Don't jest,"said Ursula.She was much more excited than her husband.Two angry spots burnt on her cheeks when Lord Luxmore came up,and,in passing,bowed.
Mrs.Halifax returned it,haughtily enough.But at the moment a loud cheer broke out from the mill hard by,and "Hurrah for the master!""Hurrah for Mr.Halifax!"was distinctly heard.The mother smiled,right proudly.
Lord Luxmore turned to his tenant--they might have been on the best terms imaginable from his bland air.
"What is that rather harsh noise I hear,Mr.Halifax?""It is my men cheering me."
"Oh,how charming!so grateful to the feelings.And WHY do they cheer you,may I ask?"John briefly told him,speaking with perfect courtesy as he was addressed.
"And this steam-engine--I have heard of it before--will greatly advantage your mills?""It will,my lord.It renders me quite independent of your stream,of which the fountains at Luxmore can now have the full monopoly."It would not have been human nature if a spice of harmless malice--even triumph--had not sparkled in John's eye,as he said this.He was walking by the horse's side,as Lord Luxmore had politely requested him.
They went a little way up the hill together,out of sight of Mrs.
Halifax,who was busy putting the two younger boys into the chaise.
"I did not quite understand.Would you do me the favour to repeat your sentence?""Merely,my lord,that your cutting off of the water-course has been to me one of the greatest advantages I ever had in my life;for which,whether meant or not,allow me to thank you."The earl looked full in John's face,without answering;then spurred his horse violently.The animal started off,full speed.
"The children.Good God--the children!"
Guy was in the ditch-bank,gathering flowers--but Muriel--For the first time in our lives,we had forgotten Muriel.
She stood in the horse's path--the helpless,blind child.The next instant she was knocked down.
I never heard a curse on John Halifax's lips but once--that once.
Lord Luxmore heard it too.The image of the frantic father,snatching up his darling from under the horse's heels,must have haunted the earl's good memory for many a day.
He dismounted,saying,anxiously,"I hope the little girl is not injured?It was accident--you see--pure accident."But John did not hear;he would scarcely have heard heaven's thunder.
He knelt with the child in his arms by a little runnel in the ditch-bank.When the water touched her she opened her eyes with that wide,momentary stare so painful to behold.
"My little darling!"
Muriel smiled,and nestled to him."Indeed,I am not hurt,dear father."Lord Luxmore,standing by,seemed much relieved,and again pressed his apologies.
No answer.
"Go away,"sobbed out Guy,shaking both his fists in the nobleman's face."Go away--or I'll kill you--wicked man!I would have done it if you had killed my sister."Lord Luxmore laughed at the boy's fury--threw him a guinea,which Guy threw back at him with all his might,and rode placidly away.
"Guy--Guy--"called the faint,soft voice which had more power over him than any other,except his mother's."Guy must not be angry.
Father,don't let him be angry."
But the father was wholly occupied in Muriel--looking in her face,and feeling all her little fragile limbs,to make sure that in no way she was injured.
It appeared not;though the escape seemed almost miraculous.John recurred,with a kind of trembling tenacity,to the old saying in our house,that "nothing ever harmed Muriel.""Since it is safe over,and she can walk--you are sure you can,my pet?--I think we will not say anything about this to the mother;at least not till we reach Longfield."But it was too late.There was no deceiving the mother.Every change in every face struck her instantaneously.The minute we rejoined her she said:
"John,something has happened to Muriel."
Then he told her,making as light of the accident as he could;as,indeed,for the first ten minutes we all believed,until alarmed by the extreme pallor and silence of the child.
Mrs.Halifax sat down by the roadside,bathed Muriel's forehead and smoothed her hair;but still the little curls lay motionless against the mother's breast,--and still to every question she only answered "that she was not hurt."All this while the post-chaise was waiting.
"What must be done?"I inquired of Ursula;for it was no use asking John anything.
"We must go back again to Enderley,"she said decidedly.
So,giving Muriel into her father's arms,she led the way,and,a melancholy procession,we again ascended the hill to Rose Cottage door.