She obeyed. He stayed a moment to say to his fallen adversary a few words of pointed warning as to ever repeating his offence; then remounted and spurred forward to join Ellen. All her power of keeping up was gone, now that the necessity was over. Her head was once more bowed on her pony's neck, her whole frame shaking with convulsive sobs; she could scarce with great effort keep from crying out aloud.
"Ellie!" said her adopted brother, in a voice that could hardly be known for the one that had last spoken. She had no words, but as he gently took one of her hands, the convulsive squeeze it gave him showed the state of nervous excitement she was in. It was very long before his utmost efforts could soothe her, or she could command herself enough to tell him her story. When at last told, it was with many tears.
"Oh, how could he! how could he!" said poor Ellen "how could he do so! it was very hard!"
An involuntary touch of the spurs made John's horse start.
"But what took you to Thirlwall alone?" said he "you have not told me that yet."
Ellen went back to Timothy's invasion of the cabbages, and gave him the whole story of the morning.
"I thought when I was going for the doctor, at first," said she, "and then afterwards when I had found him, what a good thing it was that Timothy broke down the garden fence and got in this morning; for if it had not been for that, I should not have gone to Mr. Van Brunt's and then again, after that I thought, if he only hadn't!"
"Little things often draw after them long trains of circumstances," said John "and that shows the folly of those people who think that God does not stoop to concern himself about trifles; life, and much more than life, may hang upon the turn of a hand. But, Ellen, you must ride no more alone. Promise me that you will not."
"I will not to Thirlwall, certainly," said Ellen "but mayn't
I to Alice's? how can I help it?"
"Well to Alice's that is a safe part of the country; but I should like to know a little more of your horse before trusting you even there."