CHAPTER XXXIX.
A GLEAM OF LIGHT.
Kate Harston fled as quickly as she could through the wood, stumblingover the brambles and crashing through the briars, regardless of pain orscratches or anything else which could stand between her and thepossibility of safety. She soon gained the shed and managed to mount onto the top of it by the aid of the barrel. Craning her neck, she couldsee the long dusty lane, with the bare withered hedges upon either side,and the dreary line of the railway embankment beyond. There was nopony-carriage in sight.
She hardly expected that there would be, for she had taken a short cut,and the carriage would have to go some distance round. The road alongwhich it was travelling ran at right angles to the one which she was nowoverlooking, and the chances were equal as to whether the lady wouldturn round or go straight on. In the latter case, it would not bepossible for her to attract her attention. Her heart seemed to standstill with anxiety as she peered over the high wall at the spot wherethe two roads crossed.
Presently she heard the rattle of wheels, and the brown pony trottedround the corner. The carriage drew up at the end of the lane, and thedriver seemed to be uncertain how to proceed. Then she shook the reins,and the pony lumbered on along the road. Kate gave a cry of despair andthe last ray of hope died away from her heart.
It chanced, however, that the page in the carriage was just at thathappy age when the senses are keen and on the alert. He heard the cry,and glancing round he saw through a break in the hedge that a lady waslooking over the wall which skirted the lane they had passed.He mentioned the fact to his mistress.
"Maybe we'd better go back, ma'am," he said.
"Maybe we'd better not, John," said the buxom lady. "People can lookover their garden walls without our interfering with them, can't they?"
"Yes, ma'am, but she was a-hollerin' at us."
"No, John, was she though? Maybe this is a private road and we have noright to be on it."
"She gave a holler as if some one was a-hurtin' of her," said John withdecision.
"Then we'll go back," said the lady, and turned the pony round.
Hence it came about that just as Kate was descending with a sad heartfrom her post of observation, she was electrified to see the brown ponyreappear and come trotting round the curve of the lane, with a rapiditywhich was altogether foreign to that quadruped's usual habits.Indeed, the girl turned so very white at the sight, and her face assumedsuch an expression of relief and delight, that the lady who wasapproaching saw at once that it was no common matter which had causedher to summon them.
"What is it, my dear?" she cried, pulling up when she came abreast ofthe place. Her good, kind heart was touched already by the pleadingexpression upon the girl's sweet face.
"Oh, madam, whoever you may be," said Kate, in a low, rapid voice,"I believe God has sent you here this day. I am shut up in thesegrounds, and shall be murdered unless help comes."
"Be murdered!" cried the lady in the pony-carriage, dropping back in herseat and raising her hands in astonishment.
"It is only too true," Kate said, trying to speak concisely and clearlyso as to enforce conviction, but feeling a choking sensation about herthroat, as though an hysterical attack were impending. "My guardian hasshut me up here for some weeks, and I firmly believe that he will neverlet me out alive. Oh, don't, pray don't think me mad! I am as sane asyou are, though, God knows, what I have gone through has been enough toshake my reason."
This last appeal of Kate's was in answer to an expression of incredulityand doubt which had passed over the face of the lady below. It wassuccessful in its object, for the ring of truth with which she spoke andthe look of anxiety and terror upon her face were too genuine to bemistaken. The lady drew her rein so as to bring the carriage as nearthe wall as was possible without losing sight of Kate's face.
"My dear," she said, "you may safely tell me everything. Whatever I cando to help you shall be done, and where I am powerless there are otherswho are my friends and may be of assistance. Scully is my name--Mrs. Lavinia Scully, of London. Don't cry, my poor girl, but tell meall about it, and let us see how we can put matters right."
Thus encouraged, Kate wiped away the tears which had been brought to hereyes by the unwonted sound of a friendly voice. Leaning forward as faras she could, and preventing herself from falling by passing her armround a great branch which shot across the top of the shed, she gave inas few words as she could a detailed account of all that had befallenher. She described her guardian's anxiety that she should marry hisson, her refusal, their sudden departure from London, their life at thePriory, the manner in which she was cut off from all human aid, and thereasons which made her believe that an attempt would be made upon herlife. In conclusion, she narrated the scene which had occurred thatvery morning, when her guardian had tempted her to commit suicide. Theonly incident which she omitted from her story was that which hadoccurred the night before, for she felt that it might put too severe atax upon Mrs. Scully's credulity. Indeed, looking back at it, shealmost persuaded herself that the sight which she had seen might be somephantom conjured up by her own imagination, weakened as she was in mindand in body.
Having concluded her narrative, she wound up by imploring her new-foundfriend to assist her by letting her friends in London know what hadbecome of her and where she was. Mrs. Scully listened with a face whichexpressed alternately the most profound pity and the most burningindignation. When Kate had finished, she sat silent for a minute ormore entirely absorbed in her own thoughts. She switched her whip upand down viciously, and her usually placid countenance assumed anexpression so fierce that Kate, looking down at her, feared that she hadgiven her offence. When she looked up at last, however, she smiled sopleasantly that the poor girl was reassured, and felt instinctively thatshe had really found a true and effective friend at last.
"We must act promptly," she said, "for we don't know what they may beabout, or what their plans are for the future. Who did you say yourfriends were?"
"Dr. Dimsdale, of Phillimore Gardens, Kensington."
"Hasn't he got a grown-up son?"
"Yes," said Kate, with a slight flush on her pale cheeks.
"Ah!" cried the good lady, with a very roguish smile. "I see how theland lies. Of course, of course, why shouldn't it? I remember hearingabout that young man. I have heard about the Girdlestones also.African merchants they were in the City. You see I know all about you."
"You know Tom?" Kate cried in astonishment.
"Oh, don't let us get talking of Tom," said Mrs. Scullygood-humouredly. "When girls get on a subject of that sort there's anend to everything. What I want now is business. In the first place Ishall drive down to Bedsworth, and I shall send to London."
"God bless you!" ejaculated Kate.
"But not to Phillimore Gardens. Hot-headed young men do foolish thingsunder such circumstances as these. This is a case that wants carefulmanagement. I know a gentleman in London who is just the man, and who Iknow would be only too proud to help a lady in distress. He is aretired officer, and his name is Major Clutterbuck--Major TobiasClutterbuck."
"Oh, I know him very well, and I have heard of you, too," said Kate,with a smile. "I remember your name now in connection with his."
It was Mrs. Scully's turn to blush now. "Never mind that," she said."I can trust the major, and I know he will be down here at a word fromme. I shall let him have the facts, and he can tell the Dimsdales if hethinks it best. Good-bye, dear; don't be unhappy any more, but rememberthat you have friends outside who will very quickly set all right.Good-bye!" and waving her hand in encouragement, the good widow woke upthe pony, which had fallen fast asleep, and rattled away down the lanein the direction from which she had come.