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Cyril started to snivel. He crawled to his mother.
"She hit me. She beat me, Mama. I'm bleeding, Mama. Cyril hurt!"
Mrs. Pettibone caught Cyril to the maternal bosom. Fixing Maria
Reaction left Maria
"It was worth it," she said aloud.
"I certainly hope so," said a voice. "I have never seen bridges more thoroughly burned."
After the first quick look, Maria
Now all she could think was that Bagshot had tracked her down. Her first mindless instinct was to flee; and she had actually turned, poised for ru
Turning back, she faced her adversary, as she thought him. Her chin was high and her shoulders were straight, but the pallor of her face and the terror that darkened her blue eyes were not lost on the man who watched her.
"Return to Mr. Bagshot and tell him to leave me alone," Maria
The unknown gentleman's lips pursed in a silent whistle. Then he began to laugh. "Good heavens, you are naive, to talk of the protection of the law to a legal practitioner. Never mind; I now perceive your difficulty. It arises, I assure you, from a misapprehension. So Mr. Bagshot is co
Maria
Maria
"I see no reason why I should trust you," she said. "Once in your carriage…"
He gri
"…I will whip up the horses and carry you off to a fate worse than death! My dear young lady, it appears to me that you have no option but to trust me."
They neared the house. As if in emphatic punctuation of Carlton's last comment, the front door opened and Maria
Maria
"One moment, madam! I am this lady's attorney, and I assure you that you are accountable in law for any damage to her belongings. She must be given time to pack them and remove them."
Mrs. Pettibone, who had been on the verge of tossing the remainder of Maria
Mr. Carlton took out his watch and glanced at it. "One hour," he said.
It did not take Maria
She was as anxious to leave as Mrs. Pettibone was to be rid of her. Carlton stayed with her while she gathered up her possessions and good-naturedly helped her carry her boxes out. No one else offered to do so.
Waiting on the circle before the house was a carriage. It was the most elegant equipage Maria
The sight of the carriage stopped Maria
Carlton shook his head in exasperation. "How very dramatic you are! Well, I refuse to drive any distance with a quivering, nervous female who may burst into hysterical screams at the slightest provocation. Here – Wilkins…" The coachman, having stowed away Maria
"Are you familiar with the Honorable Percival Bagshot?" Carlton asked.
"Now sir," was the reproachful reply, "you know us don't associate with such as he. Her Grace would never -"
"That will do," Carlton interrupted. "Well, Miss Ransom?"
Maria
Her companion looked as if he wished to slam the carriage door, but the coachman performed that office and then mounted the box. They were off; and despite her lingering apprehension Maria
Carlton observed her request to the letter. He did not utter a word, and although there were many questions Maria
After the usual delays the carriage left the teeming streets and turned into a drive flanked by high stone columns. No house was visible, only clusters of tall chimneys lifting up over the tops of the evergreens that lined the drive.
Though the Ransom family was of good blood, they and their country neighbors had no claim to noble titles or great wealth. One really ca