"Gone home with Sir Keith," he answered.
"Then you have seen her?" I asked.
"Yes," he said, and he explained briefly. Thyrza had climbed two-thirds of the height; then, pausing to look below, she had been seized with terror and giddiness, for the first time in her life, and had very nearly fallen down the mountain side. By dint of remaining still, and looking resolutely upward, she had so far recovered herself as to continue the ascent, reaching the top with great difficulty.
To descend again, however, had proved out of the question. Every time she approached the edge, dizziness and dread overpowered her anew. She had waved her handkerchief and made various signs to me, hoping that I should understand. Being short-sighted, she could not know whether I responded, which of course I did not, as I was then wrapped up in my letter.
Thereafter Thyrza had started off to find another way round. Her first intention was to go to The Scaur, and to descend the narrow path which runs down beside the bare rock: but happily she hit upon a shorter cut to the road by which we had approached the Pass.
Thyrza knew that Sir Keith had gone to Beckbergh to meet Arthur: and she knew that the two might possibly drive to meet us, if our return were at all delayed. I believe she had rather liked the prospect, and had been not indisposed to bring it about by delay: though later, when hurrying alone down the hills, she little expected to be so fortunate as to meet them at the moment she reached the road.
However, this really occurred. They pulled up and sprang down, astonished to see her alone. Thyrza must have been a good deal shaken by her touch of "vertigo," for she burst into tears when trying to explain matters,—a most astonishing event. Thyrza never cries in public, under any consideration, as a rule. Sir Keith was much troubled, and very sympathising; and Arthur promptly proposed to go in search of me, while Sir Keith drove Thyrza home.
Thyrza at first resisted, but she had to yield to Sir Keith's determination. The general impression was that I should certainly endeavour to climb the height in search of Thyrza, when she failed to return,—a well-founded theory, as proved by circumstances. Arthur resolved, therefore, to go by the same way that Thyrza had come. He had already explored these mountains, when staying last year at the Farm: besides, he is one of those men who are never at a loss in the wildest country.
So Sir Keith drove off with Thyrza, promising to bring or send the dog-cart with all speed to meet Arthur and me: and he made good use of his opportunity, following the advice I had given.
Arthur meanwhile found his way with all speed to the brow of the mountain, walking along it till he saw a little figure seated far below in the road. And as he came down, he stopped now and again to wave his handkerchief. Twice in vain: the third time I saw him, and waved mine.