I regretted that I could give Mrs. Brand no information, but repeated my previous statement.
"It is a guet-apens," she feelingly observed; "a most un-English, uncivilised mode of proceeding—worse than primitive—quite savage. Edward, what do you advise?"
"Eggs."
"Eggs!"
"Yes, I have always laboured under the impression that eggs were the resource of travellers in distress."
"When they could get them, I suppose," rather sharply replied his sister.
"Yes," he observed, gently tapping his foot with the extremity of his cane. "I should say this was an indispensable condition."
"I have sent Brooks to a place called Leigh," resumed Mrs. Brand, "but I have no hopes; for Marks says that this not being market-day, there is no chance of our getting anything."
"Excepting visitors," said Mr. Thornton as a sound of carriage wheels was heard in the neighbouring avenue.
We stood near the wicket-door, which had so often been my post of observation. A travelling-carriage was coming up the broad avenue. It stopped before the house, and a lady alighted. Affection rendered Mrs. Brand sharp-sighted, for without even using her eye-glass, she exclaimed: