“No carriage?”
“No, sir,” said the footman who had acted as spokesman.
“Only wish they would,” grumbled a coachman from his box close by the gate.
“We are in time,” said Mellersh, and Linnell breathed more freely as he took up a position in the shade of a great clump of evergreens just inside the gate.
“Have you any plan?” said Mellersh, after a few minutes’ waiting, during which time the servants, gathered in a knot, were at first quiet, as if resenting the presence of the two gentlemen. Then their conversation began again, and the watchers were forgotten.
“Plan? Yes,” said Linnell. “I shall take her from him, and not leave her until she is in her father’s care.”
“Humph! That means mischief, Dick.”
“Yes; for him, Mellersh. I shall end by killing that man.”
Mellersh was silent, and the minutes glided by.
“I can’t bear this,” said Linnell at last. “I feel as if there is something wrong—that he has succeeded in getting her away. Mellersh! man! why don’t you speak? Here, come this way.”