There was no sign of a coach near the office.
“It is gone, it is gone,” she cried, clasping her hands in despair. “It is gone and I know I can never reach the place in time to save him!”
“Now don’t you take on so, ma’am, that’s a dear child. The coach mayn’t have come yet, much less gone,” said mammy, soothingly.
Meanwhile the porters about the office had come forward and commenced unstrapping the baggage from behind.
Leo jumped off his seat and came and opened the carriage door and let down the steps.
“Is it any use to alight, Leo? Is not the coach gone?” sighed the lady.
“Lor’, no, ma’am—it haven’t gone out of the stable yet. We’ve lots of time.”
“Oh, thank heaven!” exclaimed Drusilla, in a tone of great relief.
Mammy gathered up her carpet bag, umbrella and big shawl—all carried for her mistress’s accommodation and not for her own—and prepared to alight.
“Here, boy, you let me get out first, so I can help the madam,” she said, handing a part of her paraphernalia to her son, and then clumsily but safely tumbling herself down to the sidewalk.