She walked back at last in despair over the wet cobblestones of the empty market square; but as she came near the house, she saw that the square was not quite empty. A horse stood blowing and steaming before Dr. Carrington’s door, and her own maid and Kate were standing hatless in the doorway looking up and down the street. Isabel’s heart began to beat, and she walked quicker. In a moment Kate saw her, and began to beckon and call; and the maid ran to meet her.
“Mistress Isabel, Mistress Isabel,” she cried, “make haste.”
“What is it?” asked the girl, in sick foreboding.
“There is a man come from Great Keynes,” began the maid, but Kate stopped her.
“Come in, Mistress Isabel,” she said, “my father is waiting for you.”
Dr. Carrington met her at the dining-room door; and his face was tender and full of emotion.
“What is it?” whispered the girl sharply. “Anthony?”
“Dear child,” he said, “come in, and be brave.”
There was a man standing in the room with cap and whip in hand, spurred and splashed from head to foot; Isabel recognised one of the grooms from the Hall.
“What is it?” she said again with a piteous sharpness.