Mile after mile was covered, and dawn was breaking when she woke to find herself at the door of an old inn. Southgate jumped down, and held the steaming horses, while Desmond lifted her down, and carried her to the house. The door was opened by an old woman, who curtseyed to Desmond.
He said something to her in a low voice, and passed on up the stairs to a door, which the woman opened, holding a candle for them.
Very gently Desmond laid her on the bed, and kissed her.
“This good woman will see to you,” he said. “You will be quite safe here.”
She was so weary that she could scarcely touch the hot soup which the woman brought her, and soon was lost in happy dreams.
Chapter III.
The Marriage
“When are we going to Italy?” asked Carlotta. She was sitting happily on Hugh’s knee, and the sunlight came through the window of the old Inn.
“I have got the tickets, and booked our passages. The boat sails on Saturday from Dover, and we go through France by train.”
She clapped her hands with pleasure.
He looked at her with delight, what a perfect little girl she was!