“Oh, no, mum, we must take her back to Abbeytown, where she will have a fair trial and full justice, that you may depend upon, so don’t be alarmed,” said Sims, with more good nature than could have been expected of him under the circumstances.
When Eudora was ready she sank into the arms of her rough but honest friend, who embraced her fervently, praying:
“Oh, may the Lord deliver you from all your enemies and all your troubles, my poor, helpless darling! and may the old Nick himself—”
“Hush, hush!” said Eudora, stopping her words with a kiss; “let me go with the sound of blessings, not of curses, ringing on my ears! Good-bye, dear friend! May God reward you for all your kindness to me!”
And Eudora withdrew from her arms.
The landlady sank sobbing into a chair. The young prisoner, half fainting, was led away between the two policemen.
They took her down-stairs, and placed her in the cab which was immediately driven towards the King’s-cross Railway Station.
They arrived just in time to catch the desired train. Eudora was hurried into a coupé, where she sat guarded on the right and left by the two policemen.
It was a miserable journey of about six hours. The policemen were reasonably kind to her, and whenever the train stopped for refreshments, they offered her food, wine, tea and coffee. But she refused all meat and drink, and sat in a stupor of exhaustion and despair.
It was after nine o’clock when the train arrived at Abbeytown. It was quite dark, but the station was well lighted, and the usual mob of guards, cabmen, and idlers was collected to see the train come in.