"Bless my heart!" cried Miss Davenal; "did your carriage run away?"
"Tell her, Sara," groaned Lady Oswald. "I shall be hoarse for two days if I call out like this."
"Lady Oswald has had some unpleasant news, aunt. She has received notice that they are going to run the railway through her grounds."
Miss Davenal caught a word or so, and looked terrified. "Received notice that they are going to run a railway through her! What do you mean?"
"Not through her," said Sara, putting her lips close to the deaf ears. "Through her grounds."
"But I'd not let them," cried Miss Davenal, hearing now. "I'd not let them, Lady Oswald."
"I won't," screamed Lady Oswald at the top of her voice. "I have sent for Mr. Oswald Cray."
Miss Davenal was dubious. "What good will that do? Is it to pelt upon them? I hate those wicked railways."
"Is what to pelt upon them?"
"The clay. Didn't you say you had sent for some clay?"