"I don't know if I have not twisted myself a little," she said, in
answer to their anxious questions, "but it will go off. Rachel, how
scared you look!"
"Don't laugh," exclaimed Rachel, in dread of hysterics, and she plunged
her hand into Alick's pocket for a scent-bottle, which he had put there
by way of precaution for her, and, while applying it, said, in her full,
sedate voice, keeping it as steady as she could, "Shall I drive you
home? Alick can walk home with his uncle when he is ready."
"Home! Thank you, Rachel, pray do. Not that I am hurt," she added in her
natural voice, "only these rags would tell tales, and there would be an
intolerable fuss."
"Then I will bring the carriage round to the road there," said Alick. "I
told Joe to be in readiness, and you need not go back to the house."
"Thank you. But, oh, send him away!" she added, with a gasping shudder.
"Only don't let him tell any one. Tell him I desire he will not."
After a few words with Mr. Carleton, Alick strode off to the stables,
and Rachel asked anxiously after the twist.
"I don't feel it; I don't believe in it. My dear, your strong mind is
all humbug, or you would not look so frightened," and again she was
on the verge of hysterical laughing; "it is only that I can't stand a
chorus of old ladies in commotion. How happy Alick must be to have
his prediction verified by some one tumbling over a hoop!" Just then,
however, seeing Mr. Carleton still lingering near, she caught hold of
Rachel with a little cry, "Don't let him come, dear Rachel; go to him,
tell him I am well, but keep him away, and mind he tells no one!"
Rachel's cold, repellent manner was in full force, and she went towards
the poor little man, whose girlish face was blanched with fright.
She told him that Lady Keith did not seem to be hurt, and only wished
to be alone, and to go home without attracting notice. He stammered
out something about quite understanding, and retreated, while Rachel
returned to find Bessie sitting upright, anxiously watching, and she
was at once drawn down to sit beside her on the bench, to listen to the
excited whisper. "The miserable simpleton! Rachel, Alick was right. I
thought, I little thought he would forget how things stand now, but
he got back to the old strain, as if--I shall make Lord Keith go to
Scotland any way now. I was so thankful to see you and Alick." She
proceeded with the agitated vehemence of one who, under a great shock,
was saying more than she would have betrayed in a cooler and more
guarded mood, "What could possess him? For years he had followed me
about like a little dog, and never said more than I let him; and now
what folly was in his head, just because I could not walk as far as the
ruin with the others. When I said I was going to Scotland, what business
had he to--Oh! the others will be coming back, Rachel, could we not go
to meet the carriage?"