'Come in, Meg—you must sit by me,' I said, recovering all at once.
Meg made no demur. 'Take my hand,' I said offering mine to her disengaged one.
'I can't, Miss—my arm's broke.'
And so it was, poor thing! She had been espied and overtaken in her errand of mercy for me, and her ruffian father had felled her with his cudgel, and then locked her into the cottage, whence, however, she had contrived to escape, and was now flying to Elverston, having tried in vain to get a hearing in Feltram, whose people had been for hours in bed.
The door being shut upon Meg, the steaming horses were instantly at a gallop again.
Tom was still watching as before, with many an anxious glance to rearward, for pursuit. Again he pulled up, and came to the window.
'Oh, what is it?' cried I.
''Bout that letter, Miss; I couldn't help. 'Twas Dickon, he found it in my pocket. That's a'.'
'Oh yes!—no matter—thank you—thank Heaven! Are we near Elverston?'
''Twill be a mile, Miss: and please'm to mind I had no finger in't.'