'If you will look at Mrs. Rook's letter again,' Emily replied, 'you will see that I ought to answer it. She supposes I am in London.'
'Do you propose to tell Mrs. Rook that you are in this house?' Mrs. Delvin asked.
'Certainly.'
'You had better consult my brother, before you take any responsibility on yourself.'
Emily kept her temper. 'Allow me to remind you,' she said, 'that Mr. Mirabel is not acquainted with Mrs. Rook —and that I am. If I speak to her personally, I can do much to assist the object of our inquiries, before he returns. She is not an easy woman to deal with—'
'And therefore,' Mrs. Delvin interposed, 'the sort of person who requires careful handling by a man like my brother—a man of the world.'
'The sort of person, as I venture to think,' Emily persisted, 'whom I ought to see with as little loss of time as possible.'
Mrs. Delvin waited a while before she replied. In her condition of health, anxiety was not easy to bear. Mrs. Rook's letter and Emily's obstinacy had seriously irritated her. But, like all persons of ability, she was capable, when there was serious occasion for it, of exerting self-control. She really liked and admired Emily; and, as the elder woman and the hostess, she set an example of forbearance and good humor.
'It is out of my power to send you to Redwood Hall at once,' she resumed. 'The only one of my three horses now at your disposal is the horse which took my brother to the Hall this morning. A distance, there and back, of twenty miles. You are not in too great a hurry, I am sure, to allow the horse time to rest?'
Emily made her excuses with perfect grace and sincerity. 'I had no idea the distance was so great,' she confessed. 'I will wait, dear Mrs. Delvin, as long as you like.'
They parted as good friends as ever—with a certain reserve, nevertheless, on either side. Emily's eager nature was depressed and irritated by the prospect of delay. Mrs. Delvin, on the other hand (devoted to her brother's interests), thought hopefully of obstacles which might present themselves with the lapse of time. The horse might prove to be incapable of further exertion for that day. Or the threatening aspect of the weather might end in a storm.
But the hours passed—and the sky cleared—and the horse was reported to be fit for work again. Fortune was against the lady of the tower; she had no choice but to submit.
Mrs. Delvin had just sent word to Emily that the carriage would be ready for her in ten minutes, when the coachman who had driven Mirabel to Belford returned. He brought news which agreeably surprised both the ladies. Mirabel had reached the station five minutes too late; the coachman had left him waiting the arrival of the next train to the North. He would now receive the telegraphic message at Belford, and might return immediately by taking the groom's horse. Mrs. Delvin left it to Emily to decide whether she would proceed by herself to Redwood Hall, or wait for Mirabel's return.
Under the changed circumstances, Emily would have acted ungraciously if she had persisted in holding to her first intention. She consented to wait.
The sea still remained calm. In the stillness of the moorland solitude on the western side of 'The Clink,' the rapid steps of a horse were heard at some little distance on the highroad.
Emily ran out, followed by careful Mrs. Ellmother, expecting to meet Mirabel.
She was disappointed: it was the groom who had returned. As he pulled up at the house, and dismounted, Emily noticed that the man looked excited.
'Is there anything wrong?' she asked.
'There has been an accident, miss.'
'Not to Mr. Mirabel!''
'No, no, miss. An accident to a poor foolish woman, traveling from Lasswade.'
Emily looked at Mrs. Ellmother. 'It can't be Mrs. Rook!' she said.
'That's the name, miss! She got out before the train had quite stopped, and fell on the platform.'
'Was she hurt?'
'Seriously hurt, as I heard. They carried her into a house hard by—and sent for the doctor.'
'Was Mr. Mirabel one of the people who helped her?'
'He was on the other side of the platform, miss; waiting for the train from London. I got to the station and gave him the telegram, just as the accident took place. We crossed over to hear more about it. Mr. Mirabel was telling me that he would return to 'The Clink' on my horse—when he heard the woman's name mentioned. Upon that, he changed his mind and went to the house.'
'Was he let in?'
'The doctor wouldn't hear of it. He was making his examination; and he said nobody was to be in the room but her husband and the woman of the house.'
'Is Mr. Mirabel waiting to see her?'
'Yes, miss. He said he would wait all day, if necessary; and he gave me this bit of a note to take to the mistress.'
Emily turned to Mrs. Ellmother. 'It's impossible to stay here, not knowing whether Mrs. Rook is going to live or die,' she said. 'I shall go to Belford—and you will go with me.'
The groom interfered. 'I beg your pardon, miss. It was Mr. Mirabel's most particular wish that you were not, on any account, to go to Belford.'
'Why not?'
