‘That fool of a farmer!’ cried Reginald.

‘What is to be done?’ said Lily, disconsolately.

‘There is the road,’ said Reginald.  ’How do you propose to get into it?’

‘There was a gap here last summer,’ said the boy.

’Very likely!  Come back; try the next field; it must have a gate somewhere.’

Back they went, after seeing the carrier’s cart from Raynham pass by.

’Redgie, it must be half-past five!  We shall never be in time.  Aunt Rotherwood coming too!’

After a desperate plunge through a swamp of ice, water, and mud, they found themselves at a gate, and safely entered the turnpike road.

‘How it rains!’ said Lily.  ’One comfort is that it is too dark for any one to see us.’

‘Not very dark, either,’ said Reginald; ’I believe there is a moon if one could see it.  Ha! here comes some one on horseback.  It is a gray horse; it is William.’

‘Come to look for us,’ said Lily.  ‘Oh, Redgie!’

‘Coming home from Raynham,’ said Reginald.  ’Do not fancy yourself so important, Lily.  William, is that you?’

‘Reginald!’ exclaimed William, suddenly checking his horse.  ’Lily, what is all this?’

’We set out to South End, to take the broth to the old Martins, and we found the meadows flooded, which made us late; but we shall soon be at home,’ said Lily, in a make-the-best-of-it tone.

’Soon?  You are a mile and a half from home now, and do you know how late it is?’

‘Half-past five,’ said Lily.

‘Six, at least; how could you be so absurd?’ William rode quickly on; Reginald laughed, and they plodded on; at length a tall dark figure was seen coming towards them, and Lily started, as it addressed her, ‘Now what is the meaning of all this?’

‘Oh, William, have you come to meet us?  Thank you; I am sorry—­’

’How were you to come through the village in the dark, without some one to take care of you?’

‘I am taking care of her,’ said Reginald, affronted.

’Make haste; my aunt is come.  How could you make the people at home so anxious?’

William gave Lily his arm, and on finding she was both tired and wet, again scolded her, walked so fast that she was out of breath, then complained of her folly, and blamed Reginald.  It was very unpleasant, and yet she was very much obliged to him, and exceedingly sorry he had taken so much trouble.

They came home at about seven o’clock.  Jane met them in the hall, full of her own and Lady Rotherwood’s wonderings; she hurried Lily upstairs, and—­skilful, quick, and ready—­she helped her to dress in a very short time.  As they ran down Reginald overtook them, and they entered the drawing-room as the dinner-bell was ringing.  William did not appear for some time, and his apologies were not such as to smooth matters for his sister.