‘Ah! but it says without her knowledge,’ said Jane. ‘Don’t you remember Rotherwood’s lamenting that they were forgotten?’
‘Yes, it is shocking,’ said Emily; ‘the clergyman that married papa and mamma!’
‘Ask Mr. Adam what he knows,’ said Jane.
Emily accordingly applied to the bookseller, and learnt that Mrs. Aylmer was indeed the person intended. ‘Something must be done,’ said she, returning to Jane. ‘Our name will be a help.’
‘Speak to Aunt Rotherwood,’ said Jane. ‘Or suppose we apply to Miss Fitchett, we should have time to drive that way.’
‘I am sure I shall not go to Miss Fitchett,’ said Emily, ‘she only longs for an excuse to visit us. What can you be thinking of? Lend me your pencil, Jenny, if you please.’
And Emily wrote down, ‘Miss Mohun, £5,’ and handed to the bookseller all that she possessed towards paying her just debts to Lilias. While she was writing, Jane had turned towards the window, and suddenly exclaiming, ‘There is Ben! Oh! that gunpowder!’ darted out of the shop. She had seen the groom on horseback, and the next moment she was asking breathlessly, ‘Is it Maurice?’
‘No, Miss Jane; but Miss Ada is badly burnt, and Master Maurice sent me to fetch Mr. Saunders.’
‘How did it happen?’
‘I can’t say, Miss; the schoolroom has been on fire, and Master Maurice said the young ladies had got at the gunpowder.’