"Is it really you!" said she, holding me off and looking at me. "I almost lost hope when they took poor Mary from me. Oh, Lucy, I have been cruelly used."
"I have come to save you, but there is not a moment to lose!" said I. "Don't take anything from the room. I have wraps in abundance. Come!"
I pulled the cabinet back to its place, drew down the tapestry and bolted the doors. We hastened down the stairs and out into the court.
A few drops of rain were falling, and it was pitch dark. Amabel held the lantern, while I locked the door, and barred the entrance to the court on the outside. We then made the best of our way to the old pavilion, where Alick was to await us with the horses. He was not in sight.
"Can he have played us false?" was my first thought.
I whistled softly and had the satisfaction to see him emerge from a thicket of evergreens.
"It is all well so far, Leddies!" said he. "Hasten to mount, and let us be on our way. I believe it is going to snow, but so much the better for us. Early snow saves muckle woe, the auld by-word has it."
I had taken the precaution to bring from home a thick gown and riding skirt. These I hastily put on Amabel, over the silk gown she wore. Alick put her on horseback and we set out on our dark, long ride.
"Are we not going first to Aunt Deborah's?" asked Amabel as we turned our horses' heads away from the village.
"No!" I answered. "We must lose no time, and if you should be missed, they would go to the little house at once to seek you. We must run no risks that we can help."