And unable, by reason of her indignation, to stand still any longer, she walked up the road to meet the returning oxcart, whose wheels could be heard rumbling in the distance.

La Fleur had seen the couple standing together on the little hill, but she had thought it a pity to disturb their tete-a-tete.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

CICELY READS BY MOONLIGHT

Just before Cicely reached the back piazza, La Fleur came out of the kitchen door with the telegram in her hand.

“Do you know,” she said, “if Mr. Haverley has come home, and where I can find him?  Here is a message for him, and I have been looking for him, high and low.”

“A telegram!” exclaimed Cicely.  “He is at the barn.  I will take it to him.  I can get there sooner than you can, La Fleur,” and without further word, she took the yellow missive and ran with it toward the barn.  She met Ralph half way, and stood by him while he read the message.

“I hope,” she cried as she looked into his pale face, “that nothing has happened to Miriam.”

“Read that,” he said, his voice trembling.  “Do you suppose—­” but he could not utter the words that were in his mind.

Cicely seized the telegram and eagerly read it.  She was on the point of screaming, but checked herself.

“How terrible!” she exclaimed.  “But what can it mean?  It is from Miss Panney.  Oh!  I think it is wicked to send a message like that, which does not tell you what has happened.”

“It must be Miriam,” cried Ralph.  “I must go instantly,” and at the top of his voice he shouted for Mike.  The man soon appeared, running.

“Mike!” exclaimed Ralph, “there has been an accident, something has happened to Miss Miriam.  I must go instantly to Barport.  I must take the next train from Thorbury.  Put the horse to the gig as quickly as you can.  You must go with me.”

With a face expressing the deepest concern, Mike stood looking at the young man.

“Don’t stop for a minute,” cried Ralph, in great excitement.  “Drop everything.  Take the horse, no matter what he has been doing; he can go faster than the mare.  I shall be ready in five minutes!”

“Mr. Hav’ley,” said Mike, “there ain’t no down train stops at Thorbury after the seven-ten, and it’s past seven now.  That train’ll be gone before I can git hitched up.”

“No train tonight!” Ralph almost yelled, “that cannot be.  I do not believe it.”

“Now look here, Mr. Hav’ley,” said Mike, “I wouldn’t tell you nothin’ that wasn’t so, ’specially at a time like this.  But I’ve been driving to Thorbury trains an’ from ’em, for years and years.  There’s a late train ’bout ten o’clock, but it’s a through express and don’t stop.”

“I must take that train,” cried Ralph, “what is the nearest station where it does stop?”

“There ain’t none nearer than the Junction, and that’s sixteen miles up, an’ a dreadful road.  I once druv there in the daytime, an’ it tuk me four hours, an’ if you went to-night you couldn’t get there afore daylight.”