Then as she lifted her
head again, she saw, not three yards from her, and on a level with her
own face, the face of the squire looking at her from over the wall.
She had not seen him, except once in Derby, a year or two before, and
that at a distance, since Robin had left England; and at the sight she
started so violently, in some manner jerking the reins that she held,
that her horse, tired with the long ride of the day before, slipped once
again, and came down all asprawl on the stones, fortunately throwing her
clear of his struggling feet. She was up in a moment, but again sank
down, aware that her foot was in some way bruised or twisted.
There was a clatter of hoofs behind her as the servants rode up; a
child or two ran up the street, and when, at last, on Janet's arm, she
rose again to her feet, it was to see the squire staring at her, with
his hands clasped behind his back.
"Bring the ladies up to the house," he said abruptly to the man; and
then, taking the rein of the girl's horse that had struggled up again,
he led the way, without another word, without even turning his head,
round to the way that ran up to his gates.
II
It was not with any want of emotion that Marjorie found herself
presently meekly seated upon Alice's horse, and riding up at a
foot's-pace beneath the gatehouse of the Hall. Rather it was the balance
of emotions that made her so meek and so obedient to her friend's
tranquil assumption that she must come in as the squire said.
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