Marcia shrunk and seemed to wither where she sat. All her bright bloom
faded in an instant and a kind of frenzy seized her. She had a wild desire
to get down out of the carriage and run with all her might away from this
hateful scene. The sky seemed to have suddenly clouded over and the hum
and buzz of voices about seemed a babel that would never cease.
David felt the arm beside his cringe, and shrink back, and looking down
saw the look upon her sweet frightened face; following her glance his own
face hardened into what might have been termed righteous wrath. But not a
word did he say, and neither did he apparently notice the oncoming
carriage. He busied himself at once talking with a man who happened to
pass the carriage, and when Mr. Heath drove by to get a better view of the
engine he was so absorbed in his conversation that he did not notice them,
which seemed but natural.
But Kate was not to be thus easily foiled. She had much at stake and she
must win if possible. She worked it about that Squire Heath should drive
around to the end of the line of coaches, quite out of sight of the engine
and where there was little chance of seeing the train and its
passengers,—the only thing Squire Heath cared about. But there was an
excellent view of David’s carriage and Kate would be within hailing
distance if it should transpire that she had no further opportunity of
speaking with David. It seemed strange to Squire Heath, as he sat there
behind the last coach patiently, that he had done what she asked. She did
not look like a woman who was timid about horses, yet she had professed a
terrible fear that the screech of the engine would frighten the staid old
Heath horse. Miranda, at that, had insisted upon changing seats, thereby
getting herself nearer the horse, and the scene of action. Miranda did not
like to miss seeing the engine start.
At last word to start was given. A man ran along by the train and mounted
into his high seat with his horn in his hand ready to blow. The fireman
ceased his raking of the glowing fire and every traveller sprang into his
seat and looked toward the crowd of spectators importantly. This was a
great moment for all interested. The little ones whose fathers were in the
train began to call good-bye and wave their hands, and one old lady whose
only son was going as one of the train assistants began to sob aloud.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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