United States or Cameroon ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The telegram lay upon her lap, and she read it over and over again with increasing alarm as she noticed its careful vagueness, which seemed to her the worst sign of all. She was heartily relieved when she found that she was nearing Muirside: the journey had never seemed so long to her before.
Kitty's luggage was already in the hands of a man whom she thought she recognised: she had seen him once or twice with Hugo, and once when she paid a state-call at Netherglen. Just as she was leaving the station, a thought occurred to her, and she turned back. "I said I would telegraph to Mrs. Baxter as soon as I reached Muirside. Is it too late?" "The office is shut, I think." "I am so sorry!
He wishes you to come by the next train, which leaves Edinburgh at four-thirty. You shall be met at the Muirside Station either by Hugo or myself." "There is time for me to catch the train, is there not?" said Kitty, jumping up, with her eyes full of tears. "Oh, yes, dear, yes, plenty of time. But who is to go with you?" said Mrs. Baxter, rather nervously.
She noticed that the message was dated from Muirside Station, and that she must, therefore, wait until Kitty sent the promised letter before she wrote to Kitty, as she did not know where Mr. Heron might be staying. But as the days passed on and nothing more was heard, she addressed a letter of inquiry to Kitty at Strathleckie.
"They must have had news of Percival!" Then she read the message and turned pale. "What is it?" said one of her friends, coming to her side. Kitty held out the paper for her to read. "Elizabeth Murray, Queen's Hotel, Muirside, to Miss Heron, Merchiston Terrace, Edinburgh. Your father has met with a serious accident, and is not able to move from Muirside.
Baxter went with her to the station, and put her under the care of the guard who promised to look after her. "You will write to us, Kitty, and tell us how Mr. Heron is," said Mrs. Baxter, before the train moved off. "Yes, I will telegraph," said Kitty, "as soon as I reach Muirside." "Do, dear. I hope you will find him better.
It was, indeed, longer than usual, for the railway line was in some places partly blocked with snow, and eight o'clock was past before Kitty reached Muirside. She looked anxiously out of the window, and saw Hugo Luttrell on the platform before the train had stopped. He sprang up to the step, and looked at her for a moment without speaking.
"I am so sorry John is not at home; but there is scarcely time to let him know." "I can go perfectly well by myself," said Kitty. "You must put me into the train at the station, Mrs. Baxter, under the care of the guard, if you like, and I shall be met at Muirside." "Where is Muirside?" asked Jessie Baxter, a girl of Kitty's age. "Five miles from Dunmuir. I suppose papa was sketching or something.
Word Of The Day