Part 45 (1/2)
LADY O'HARA IS TRIUMPHANT
AFTER spending a restless night, starting at every sound, and hearing the hours strike sloay, Lady O'Hara arose not a whit refreshed and considerablythe night she had iined all sorts of impossible horrors to have befallen her husband, and if, when the reassuring daylight had coh re as she alternated between the halland the gate
No less worried was Jiht to find his htened bewilderment, and the house in a whirl No one, least of all poor Molly, seeone All she kneas that they had coh in the midst of a small crowd of excited servants Her husband had elbowed his way through, and into his ears had Mr Beauleigh poured his story Then O'Hara seemed to catch the excitement, and she had been hurried into the house with the hasty explanation that Jack was off after Devil, who had caught Diana, and hevision of hi off down the drive, his sword at his side and pistols in the saddle-holsters The poor little lady had sent an i cry after him, checked almost before it had left her lips Afterwards she wished it had never been uttered, and rather hoped that it had escaped O'Hara's ears
Salter arrived not half-an-hour later, and his feelings when told that his beloved ht, ined than described He was all for setting out in his wake, but her ladyshi+p strongly vetoed the plan, declaring that Sir Miles would be rescue enough, and she was not going to be left entirely without protectors Jim was far too respectful to point out that there were five able-bodiedhimself, in the house, but as his master had left no instructions for hiht but a Job's comforter next day, for when my lady pessimistically premised that both Carstares and her husband were undoubtedly hurt, he did not, as she expected he would, strive to reassure her, but gave a gloolance in his direction, and turned her back
At four in the afternoon they were both in the hall, anxiously watching the drive
”To be sure, 'tis monstrous late!” remarked Molly, ide, apprehensive eyes
”Yes, ht were amiss, they should have been back by now, surely?”
”Yes indeed, my lady”
Lady O'Hara stamped her foot
”Don't say yes! ” she cried
Ji pardon, m'lady?”
”You are not to say yes! After all, theywaytheyertheymay have happened!”
”Yes, m'- I mean certainly, your ladyshi+p!” hastily amended Jim
”In fact, I should not be surprised an they were not at all hurt!”
He shook his head despondently, but luckily for him the lady failed to notice it, and continued with airy cheerfulness: ”For my husband has often told me what an excellent swordsets his wound”
What she ht have been constrained to reply to this is not known, for at that ravel With one accord she and Salter flew to the door, and between the coach, postillioned by old and black, and emblazoned with the Wyncham arms, drew up at the door
My lady was down the steps in the twinkling of an eye, alrooms had opened the door to offer an arhtly out, followed by O'Hara, seeht into her husband's ar him
Jim Salter hurried up to my lord
”Ye are not hurt, sir?” he cried
Carstares handed hiht to speak of, Jihed at Ji satisfied herself that her husband was quite uninjured and had never once been in danger of his life, had come towards him, full of solicitude for his shoulder ”Oh, my dear Jack! Miles tells ain! And pray what has been done for it? I dare swear not one of you great men had the wit to summon a doctor, as indeed you should have, for-”
”Whist now, asthore!” adjured her husband ”'Tis but a clean scratch after all Take hi to drink! I'll swear 'tis what he needs hed and complied
Over the ale Jack related the whole escapade up to the moment when he had parted from Diana at Littledean Then O'Hara took up the tale with a delightful chuckle
”Sure, Molly, ye never saw anything to equal poor old Beauleigh when his daughter had told him Jack's name! Faith, he didn't knohat to do at all, he was so excited! And Miss Betty I thought would have the vapours froain, in such a state of ine!”
Molly, who had listened with round eyes, drew a deep ecstatic breath Then she bounced up, clapping her hands, and proclaiht after all!
”What will ye be , alanna?” inquired O'Hara
”Pray, sir, did I not say over and over again that if I could only induce Jack to stay with us everything would coht? Now, Miles, you know I did!”
”I re like it once,” admitted her spouse
”Once, indeed! I was always sure of it And I did coax you to stay, did I not, Jack?” she appealed
”You did,” he agreed ”You assured h to leave, Miles would slowly sicken and pine away!”
She ignored her husband's ribald appreciation of this
”Then you see that 'tis all owing toended in riotous hilarity
When he went to change his clothes, Carstares found Jiaily, and sat down before his dressing-table
”I require a very festive costuht, Jiood, your lordshi+p,” was the prim reply
Jack slewed round
”What's that?”
”I understand your lordshi+p is an Earl,” said poor Jim
”Noas the tactless idiot who told you that? I had intended to break the news myself I suppose now, you know mystory?”
”Yes, sier?”
”In heaven's name, why not? Do you wish to leave ht ye'd maybe want a smarter valetandnot me”