After Laura had partaken of a substantial breakfast, which, to say the truth, she did ample justice to, she began to consider how she could get to the station.
It was so remarkably early—not six o’clock—that the chances were that she might be able to make a clean run of it and get clear off before the myrmidons of the law were abroard hunting for their prey.
“I wish I could meet with a conveyance, madam,” said Laura, addressing herself to her elder companion. “It is essential that I should be in town as early as possible, but I cannot at present see how it is to be compassed.”
“Not unless you’ll consent to ride in a milk cart,” returned the other.
“In a milk cart! Goodness me, I shall be but too delighted. What matters it what sort of vehicle?”
“Well then, I tell ee what ee can do, if ye’re amind, and don’t care about it. In less than a quarter of an hour Nat will start w’ the milk to the station, and he can take you with un.”
“Oh, my dear lady, I am so much obliged by this offer! In a quarter of an hour, say you?”
“Aye, surely. It be better nor nine miles. And if so be as ye are in a hurry—”
“I am in a great hurry.”
“Well, then, it ’ud take a goodish while to walk—at least it would me. My health ain’t so good as what it yused to be, nor my legs either, for the matter of that, but ye be strong and lithe of limb, but still it be too far for ee to walk, so ee’d better go wi’ Nat.