“Seriously hurt, as I heard. They carried her into a house hard by—and sent for the doctor.”
“Was Mr. Mirabel one of the people who helped her?”
“He was on the other side of the platform, miss; waiting for the train from London. I got to the station and gave him the telegram, just as the accident took place. We crossed over to hear more about it. Mr. Mirabel was telling me that he would return to ‘The Clink’ on my horse—when he heard the woman’s name mentioned. Upon that, he changed his mind and went to the house.”
“Was he let in?”
“The doctor wouldn’t hear of it. He was making his examination; and he said nobody was to be in the room but her husband and the woman of the house.”
“Is Mr. Mirabel waiting to see her?”
“Yes, miss. He said he would wait all day, if necessary; and he gave me this bit of a note to take to the mistress.”
Emily turned to Mrs. Ellmother. “It’s impossible to stay here, not knowing whether Mrs. Rook is going to live or die,” she said. “I shall go to Belford—and you will go with me.”
The groom interfered. “I beg your pardon, miss. It was Mr. Mirabel’s most particular wish that you were not, on any account, to go to Belford.”
“Why not?”