“Yes; but you must be near me,” said Emilia.

Georgiana heard this, and could not conceive other than that Emilia was growing to be one of those cormorant creatures who feed alike on the homage of noble and ignoble.  She was critical, too, of that very assured pose of Emilia’s head and firm planting of her feet as the girl paraded the room after the dances in which she could not join.  Previous to this evening, Georgiana had seen nothing of the sort in her; but, on the contrary, a doubtful droop of the shoulders and an unwilling gaze, as of a soul submerged in internal hesitations.  “I earnestly trust that this is a romantic folly of Merthyr’s, and no more,” thought Georgiana, who would have had that view concerning his love for Italy likewise, if recollection of her own share of adventure there had not softly interposed.

Tracy, Georgiana, Merthyr, and Emilia were in the carriage, well muffled up, with one window open to the white mist.  Emilia was eager to thank her friend, if only for the physical relief from weariness and sluggishness which she was experiencing.  She knew certainly that the dim light of a recovering confidence in herself was owing, all, to him, and burned to thank him.  Once on the way their hands touched, and he felt a shy pressure from her fingers as they parted.  Presently the carriage stopped abruptly, and listening they heard the coachman indulge his companion outside with the remark that they were a couple of fools, and were now regularly ‘dished.’

“I don’t see why that observation can’t go on wheels,” said Tracy.

Merthyr put out his head, and saw the obstruction of the mass of stone across the road.  He alighted, and together with the footman, examined the place to see what the chance was of their getting the carriage past.  After a space of waiting, Georgiana clutched the wraps about her throat and head, and impetuously followed her brother, as her habit had always been.  Emilia sat upright, saying, “I must go too.”  Tracy moaned a petition to her to rest and be comfortable while the Gods were propitious.  He checked her with his arm, and tried to pacify her by giving a description of the scene.  The coachman remained on his seat.  Merthyr, Georgiana, and the footman were on the other side of the rock, measuring the place to see whether, by a partial ascent of the sloping rubble down which it had bowled, the carriage might be got along.

“Go; they have gone round; see whether we can give any help,” said Emilia to Tracy, who cried:  “My goodness! what help can we give?  This is an express situation where the Fates always appear in person and move us on.  We’re sure to be moved, if we show proper faith in them.  This is my attitude of invocation.”  He curled his legs up on the seat, resting his head on an arm; but seeing Emilia preparing for a jump he started up, and immediately preceded her.  Emilia looked out after him.  She perceived a figure coming stealthily from the bank.  It stopped, and again advanced, and now ran swiftly down.  She drew back her head as it approached the open door of the carriage; but the next moment trembled forward, and was caught with a cat-like clutch upon Wilfrid’s breast.