—“Says how young Mrs. Lyon is seemingly ill, and will you please to wake up the coachman, and tell him to take the fastest horse and ride quick as possible to Saulsburg for Dr. Leech.
Dick was dressed and at the door by the time Marcy had done speaking.
“Can I see Miss Anna for an instant?” he inquired.
“I will ask her,” answered Marcy, hurrying down the passage.
Dick hastened after her, and waited outside Drusilla’s door while Marcy went in to inquire.
Anna came out with a large shawl wrapped around her.
“Oh, hurry, Dick! don’t stop to talk! the poor child is very ill, and delay may be her death!” exclaimed Anna, as she appeared.
“I merely stopped to tell you, Anna, that I shall trust to no servant, least of all to slow old Jacob! I shall saddle my own fast horse, and fly for the doctor myself.”
“You’re a trump, Dick. Heaven bless you, be off?”
And Anna disappeared within the sick chamber. And Dick ran down to the stable, saddled his horse, leaped upon his back, struck spurs to his flanks and was off like an arrow in the direction of Saulsburg. “He skelpit on through dub and mire,” so eager in his errand, that he scarcely noticed the storm was over, and the clouds were breaking overhead; a few pale stars were shining out, and day was faintly dawning in the East.