She was quietly patient till the afternoon, and then
restless, and could not settle down in any part of the house till she
got to a little room on the first floor, with a bay-window commanding
the country over which Sir Charles was hunting. In this she sat, with
her head against one of the mullions, and eyed the country-side as far
as she could see.
Presently she heard a rustle, and there was Mary Wells standing and
looking at her with evident emotion.
"What is the matter, Mary?" said Lady Bassett.
"Oh, my lady!" said Mary. And she trembled, and her hands worked.
Lady Bassett started up with alarm painted in her countenance.
"My lady, there's something wrong in the hunting field."
"Sir Charles!"
"An accident, they say."
Lady Bassett put her hand to her heart with a faint cry. Mary Wells ran
to her.
"Come with me directly!" cried Lady Bassett. She snatched up her
bonnet, and in another minute she and Mary Wells were on their road to
the village, questioning every body they met.
But nobody they questioned could tell them anything. The stable-boy,
who had told the report in the kitchen of Huntercombe, said he had it
from a gentleman's groom, riding by as he stood at the gates.
The ill news thus flung in at the gate by one passing rapidly by was
not confirmed by any further report, and Lady Bassett began to hope it
was false.
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