Part 69 (2/2)
”Yes,” said the Baron. ”You see, the moment we got into that ambush I kept my eye open, and got a chance to spring into the woods. There I was all right, and ran for it. I got into the road again a couple of miles back, got a horse, rode to Civita Castellana, and there I was lucky enough to find a company of Zouaves. Well, Sir, we came here flying, mind, I tell you, and got hold of a chap that we made guide us to the lake. Then we opened on them; and here we are, by thunder! But where's Min?”
”Who?” asked Hawbury.
”Min,” said the Baron, in the most natural tone in the world.
”Oh! Why, isn't she here?”
”No. We've hunted every where. No one's here at all.” And the Baron went on to tell about their search and its results. Hawbury was chiefly struck by the news of Girasole.
”He must have gone mad with terror,” said Hawbury, as he told the Baron about his adventure at the grave. ”If that's so,” he added, ”I don't see how the ladies could be harmed. I dare say they've run off.
Why, we started to run, and got so far off that we couldn't find our way back, even after the trumpet began to sound. You must keep blowing at it, you know. Play all the national tunes you can--no end. They'll find their way back if you give them time.”
And now they all went back to the house, and the Baron in his anxiety could not talk any more, but began his former occupation of walking up and down, and fuming and fretting and chafing, and, I'm again afraid, swearing--when all of a sudden, on the bank in front of him, on the very top, just emerging from the thick underbrush which had concealed them till that moment, to their utter amazement and indescribable delight, they beheld Scone Dacres and Mrs. Willoughby. Scone Dacres appeared to Hawbury to be in a totally different frame of mind from that in which he had been when he last saw him; and what perplexed him most, yea, and absolutely confounded him, was the sight of Scone Dacres with his demon wife, whom he had been pursuing for the sake of vengeance, and whose frenzy had been so violent that he himself had been drawn with him on purpose to try and restrain him. And now what was the injured husband doing with his demon wife? Doing! why, doing the impa.s.sioned lover most vigorously; sustaining her steps most tenderly; grasping her hand; pus.h.i.+ng aside the bushes; a.s.sisting her down the slope; overwhelming her, in short; hovering round her, apparently unconscious that there was in all the wide world any other being than Mrs. Willoughby. And as Hawbury looked upon all this his eyes dilated and his lips parted involuntarily in utter wonder; and finally, as Dacres reached the spot, the only greeting which he could give his friend was,
”By Jove!”
And now, while Mrs. Willoughby and Ethel were embracing with tears of joy, and overwhelming one another with questions, the Baron sought information from Dacres.
Dacres then informed him all about Tozer's advent and departure.
”Tozer!” cried the Baron, in intense delight. ”Good on his darned old head! Hurrah for the parson! He shall marry us for this--he, and no other, by thunder!”
Upon which Mrs. Willoughby and Ethel exchanged glances, but said not a word. Not they.
But in about five minutes, when Mrs. Willoughby had Ethel apart a little by herself, she said,
”Oh, Ethel dear, isn't it dreadful?”
”What?” asked Ethel.
”Why, poor Minnie.”
”Poor Minnie?”
”Yes. Another horrid man. And he'll be claiming her too. And, oh dear!
what shall I do?”
”Why, you'll have to let her decide for herself. I think it will be--this person.”
Mrs. Willoughby clasped her hands, and looked up with a pretty little expression of horror.
”And do you know, dear,” added Ethel, ”I'm beginning to think that it wouldn't be so _very_ bad. He's Lord Hawbury's friend, you know, and then he's very, very brave; and, above all, think what we all owe him.”
Mrs. Willoughby gave a resigned sigh.
<script>