"I say, Turnbull," he stammered, "do you remember you heard a screech?"
"Aye, and you said it were the owls in the old tower."
"So I did. Surely she didn't go that way."
"Most like she did," said the servant, "for Cook said, 'If you go down the avenue, Miss, you'll be first to welcome them, so I won't hinder you.' And Miss Evelyn said, 'I shall just run across the churchyard, and be back again directly,—it's the nearest way.'"
"My lamb! My dear young lady!" burst out poor Mr. Spadeley. "Then she's jumped the wall and come down into my new grave!"
"Didn't you cover it over?" cried the landlord, dashing his pipe to the ground. "What on earth wert thinking on?"
"More shame for me; no, I didn't. Who'd have thought of her scampering off like that, and Master Guy at the threshold too?"
And away he went after the impatient servant and the angry landlord.
There at the bottom of a deep grave, insensible, and her brow within an inch of the sharp point of Mr. Spadeley's pick, they found the fair truant, and in consternation and dread bore her home to her mother's care. While thoughtful Joe, who as his friend Jane believed always did the right thing, and was always at hand when wanted, mounted a more obedient beast than the sage black horses, and brought the Doctor before others thought of sending for him.
It was some time before the young lady recovered consciousness, to find herself bruised and shaken, but happily no bones were broken. And as she opened her eyes upon the anxious mothers and Maude, she only said,—