Part 41 (1/2)

'Let me first see you back to the inn, ladies'

'Some accident may happen in the mean time The horses are unruly We will stay here till all is safe'

The advice was just, and it came from Olivia I obeyed and hastened to the coach the horses froe This was presently done; and the coach was left, till proper aid and ht could be obtained

I then returned to Olivia; and, when the coachreat?

'I don't know, entleone one yard nay two feet farther I should have had an overturn; and then how either you or I could have got out of that gravel pit is more than I can tell For my own part, I know, I thank hientleentleenerally want soh to take a glass with o to the depth of my pocket, and welcome'

'If that be the case,' replied the aunt, 'we are all very ed to theain'

Just as this was passing, we heard at a distance, and as if co of 'Hollo! Hoix! Coachee! Coach! where are you all?'

'I declare,' said the aunt, 'that is my nephew's voice! This is very lucky! He will now take us in his phaeton'

'Surely, mada lady in a phaeton such a night as this; when you see the most experienced drivers are liable to such accidents?'

'If the lady does,' continued the coach, 'why I shall suppose she does not value a broken neck of a farthing'

We then proceeded back to the inn, and were presently joined by Hector; whoan to rate

While she was thus euise my voice, as I had before done in the few sentences I had uttered, and addressing ly concerned, ht you would suffer Mr Mowbray to drive you hoht shall appear'

'I certainly shall not, sir;' answered she 'But do you know my brother?'

'Madam!'

'You are acquainted with his name; and I don't recollect that it has been mentioned'

I hesitated, Hector turned upon us, ere approaching the light, and, with a suddenness which fear and passion inspired, knowing that Mowbray did not understand Italian, I said in an under voice--'_Il Signer Hugo Trevor non e nora_; Mr Trevor is not dead, dearest lady'--At the same instant I snatched her hand, pressed it, was about to raise it tomyself, turned short round, and added, '_Addio!_'

Clarke was at my back; and I plucked him by the coat, and whispered--'Co at this strangetorrent of ideas suddenly overwhelrave; that enius in the dark hour of dread and danger; acquainted in a way the hts, and favourable wishes; or, as she was too severely inclined to term it, her passion and its folly; a witness that she did not credit all which ainst him, nor listen in base silence when her perhaps too partial heart pleaded in his behalf; nay more, that man the protector of her aunt, by whom he had been so often and so bitterly reviled; thatin obscurity; in fa peril in her behalf, and shunning the thanks which the uncoht boldlythem most certainly because of the mean condition to which he was reduced; faithful in his affection; for such his behaviour spoke hi under poverty; languishi+ng away his youth; or crushed by accu disasters!--Did no such fears, no such tender recollections, assail her bosom?--I have described her ill indeed if that could be supposed I must pursue my narrative: for how can I picture what most indubitably must have passed in her heart, since I feelmy own!

This adventure did not entirely end here I wished to have gone forward on foot to Hounsloithout delay: but Clarke interceded, for a glass of brandy He said the water had chilled him; and he was still more importunate with me to take the same preventative I had no fear for : but, as I did not think I had any right to trifle with his health, I returned with hie to the kitchen door

Here, just as we ca in face of us, carrying a pair of candles, but my quondam servant, Philip!

The instant he beheld hast for a h not so terrified, I was almost as much surprised as he; and suffered him to escape before I had the presence of mind to kno to act As however it was ht proper to make no other enquiry than to ask whose servant he was? and was answered that he came with the ladies, who had just returned from the coach

Various conjectures instantly crossed ination; all of which were associated with the sudden flight fro honesty and even affection of his character previous to that event, his now being in the service of Olivia, for I understood hih reatly excited, the present was not the time in which these mysteries could be unravelled We therefore took Clarke's prescription against cold; and, leaving Cranford bridge, pursued our road to Hounslohere we arrived about eleven o'clock, and put up at an inferior inn lest any accident should bring us again in company with the aunt and the nephew