Hark! there was the trampling of horses and thundering of wheels at the door! Could the doctor be come already, and in such a fashion?
Jumbo hurried to admit him, and Mrs. Aylward moved to arrange matters, but the clasp that was on Aurelia’s hand would not let her go.
Presently there came, not Dr. Hunter’s tread, but a crisp, rustling sound, and the tap of high heels, and in the doorway stood, tall, erect, and terrible, Lady Belamour, with a blaze of wrath in her blue eyes, and concentrated rage in her whole form, while in accents low, but coming from between her teeth, she demanded, “Miserable boy, what means this?”
“Oh! madam, take care! he is sadly hurt!” cried Aurelia, with a gesture as if to screen him.
“I ask what this means?” repeated Lady Belamour, advancing, and seeming to fill the room with her majestic figure, in full brocaded dress, with feathers waving in her hair.
“His Honour cannot answer you, my Lady,” said Mrs. Aylward. “He has had a bad fall, and Mr. Belamour is gone to send for the doctor.”
“This is the housekeeping in my absence!” said Lady Belamour, showing less solicitude as to her son’s condition than indignation at the discovery, and her eyes and her diamonds glittering fearfully.
“My Lady,” said Mrs. Aylward, with stern respectfulness, “I knew nothing of all this till this lady called me an hour ago telling me Sir Amyas was hurt. I found him as you see. Please your Ladyship, I must go back to him.”
“Speak then, you little viper,” said Lady Belamour, turning on Aurelia, who had risen, but was held fast by the hand upon hers. “By what arts have you well nigh slain my son? Come here, and tell me.”
“None, madam!” gasped Aurelia, trembling, so that she grasped her chair-back with her free hand for support. “I never saw him till to-night.”