"If you all reiterate questions at me at once, how am I to answer? Very few are hurt, comparatively speaking. The engine went into something, a truck or trucks I believe, and there was a smash. The two first carriages, both third-class, are--nowhere, and the passengers I won't tell you about, Lake, before these two girls, for it would spoil their night's rest. The next carriage, a second-class, was damaged, and its inmates are bruised, but not much, I think."
"And what of the rest of the train?" breathlessly inquired Clara.
"Nothing. The carriages came to a standstill on the line, and we got out of them."
"Are you sure there is no first-class carriage injured?" she continued.
"Certain. So to speak, there has been no accident to the rest of the train, beyond the delay and fright."
Mr. Lake looked at his wife and smiled. "So you would not have been one of the injured, Clary, had you been in the train."
She shook her head. "We have not the full particulars yet. Oliver may be deceived."
"It is exactly as I tell you, Mrs. Lake," said Oliver Jupp. "There is no further damage."
"Are you going back to Coombe Dalton?"
"Yes, as soon as I can. But I thought it well to come on and let you know the best and worst. Lake, will you go with me?"