“At that moment there was a rush to the ropes. The clerk of the course was clearing it. The sudden crack of his whip, accompanied by the shouts of the people near him, alarmed the horses round Mrs. Carleton’s carriage: one of them made a desperate plunge, and in an instant the old gipsy was trampled beneath its feet. A scream of horror burst from Mrs. Carleton’s lips, whilst all the young men instantly dismounted and crowded round the unfortunate gipsy. ‘Is she killed? O tell me! Is the child injured?—Do speak,’ continued Mrs. Carleton.
“‘The old woman is certainly stunned, and I fear her forehead has been severely kicked. The child is not hurt; she dropped it from her back, I believe, the moment the horse first plunged,’ answered her son.
“‘O pray lift the poor child into the carriage!’ said his mother, ‘I will take charge of her for the present; the poor old woman had better be carried instantly into a booth, and see what can be done for her.’
“‘The surgeon of our regiment is on the course,’ said Captain Wyndham, one of the gentlemen who stood near; ‘I will ride instantly, and seek for him.’
“‘O do!’ exclaimed Mrs. Carleton; ‘and George, you can endeavour to find out any of the gipsy party to which the unfortunate old woman belongs, and tell them where the child may be found, for I will drive directly home, and take the poor little creature with me.’
“In another moment the carriage was rapidly proceeding towards Oakley Hall, while poor little Julia sat pale and trembling on Mrs. Carleton’s lap, every now and then bending forward and looking fearfully behind. The Carletons watched her in silent pity, attributing her anxious looks and evident trepidation to alarm for the fate of the wretched gipsy. At length Julia could bear her suspense no longer, and she timidly whispered—‘Will she follow us?’
“‘I hope she soon may be able,’ replied Mrs. Carleton, wishing to soothe the anxious child. Julia shuddered, and became again silent.
“‘Emma,’ said Mrs. Carleton to her younger daughter, when they reached home, ‘I give this poor child into your care, while your sisters and I are at dinner. Comfort her as well as you can perhaps, when your brothers and their friends return, we may have some hope to give her of the poor old woman’s safety—perhaps she may soon be with her again.’
“‘O no!’ Julia was going to add, but the recollection of the terrible look and the terrible threat checked her, and she followed her young conductress in silence to the school-room. Scarcely had General and Mrs. Carleton sat down to dinner, after waiting some time for the return of the rest of the party, when their son and his friends entered the room. They looked grave and harassed, and Mrs. Carleton at once guessed the tidings which they brought. All efforts to save the old gipsy had proved vain; but once only had she opened her eyes, and darted a searching look of mingled rage and pain amongst those who stood around her, as if she wished to detect and blast the author of her calamity;—but once, and then they were closed again, and for ever!
“All attempts to discover traces of any of the party to whom she might be supposed to belong had proved fruitless. Two or three other gipsies had indeed been seen on the course during the day, but at what hour they had left it, and in what direction, no one appeared to have observed.