"You should not speak so, Sister Deborah! You know it is poor Philippa's way, and I don't mind," said Mrs. Chloe, looking, however, as though she did mind very much, and beginning to cough.
"You are right, Chloe, and I am wrong!" said Mrs. Deborah. "There, now I have made you cough!"
I noticed, however, that neither of the ladies were at all disturbed at Mrs. Philippa's fits, which gradually subsided as they were not noticed.
That night we stayed at the inn to be ready for the early start we were to make the next morning. Mrs. Tupper came to rouse us at daylight, with cakes and cups of chocolate; but we were already up and dressed, and had put up all our affairs.
The coach, a great roomy lumbering affair drawn by four horses, came to the door, and we all packed ourselves into it. A tight pack it was, but we were all disposed to be good-natured. Mrs. Philippa traveled by herself in her own chaise with Tupper and Richard—a very fortunate arrangement for us. Our heavy luggage and Mrs. Deborah's purchases were to follow in the wagon.
All young folks like a journey, and Amabel was in good spirits, well-pleased at the prospect of seeing a little more of the world, and by no means ill-pleased that Mr. Cheriton should accompany us, for our first stage. I cannot say that I felt quite as happy—but I did my best to be agreeable, and gradually succeeded in cheering myself.
[CHAPTER XVI.]
HIGHBECK HALL.
HIGHBECK Hall was a very long day's journey from Newcastle, in the best of roads. A frost, the first of the season, had set in two or three days before, and the roads were as hard as iron, and rougher than anything I can think of, wherewith to compare them. We had four noble great horses, beside a saddle-horse for Mrs. Deborah to mount when she pleased, for she was a great horse-woman. We had four inside our coach, and two outside, and a man on horseback beside.