Mr Darnley the elder was by his son’s silence and by his expressive looks recalled to reflection. Making then an apology for having detained Mr Pringle so long, the rector of Neverden concluded by saying, that he would take some steps to cause Mr Primrose to be informed of the danger to which his daughter was exposed. On this, Mr Pringle took the hint and departed, not best pleased with his visit; for Mr Darnley had behaved with great formality, and had moreover taken the liberty to give his visitor a hint about departing, thereby displaying too strong a sense of superiority. All the consolation that Mr Pringle had under these sorrows was, that he could think within himself that he was in every respect Mr Darnley’s equal. CHAPTER XIV. Mr Darnley and his son were now left to themselves; and the young gentleman was wishing that Mr Pringle had kept his cousin’s foolish letter to himself; and Mr Darnley the elder was just beginning an elaborate and serious lecture on his son’s folly and pertinacity, when the discourse was suddenly interrupted and stopped by the appearance of Sir George Aimwell’s carriage driving up the avenue in much quicker time than it was ordinarily accustomed to. And presently Lady Aimwell was seen alighting from the carriage in great haste; and presently afterwards a loud talking was heard, inasmuch as five female voices were in full cry at their very topmost pitch, and there were heard gabblings and exclamations and almost shriekings. Mr Darnley and his son must have been the veriest stoics that ever lived had they not been anxious and curious to know the meaning of all this clatter. If the female sex be curious, let not this be said of them reproachfully; for they are as anxious to gratify the curiosity of others as they are to have their own curiosity gratified. Not long were the rector of Neverden and his son kept in suspense, touching the cause of the clamour above alluded to; for there rushed into the study with most irreverent haste and unceremonious abruptness, three young ladies almost out of breath, but all speaking at once, and with such eager impetuosity, that they were forced to tell their story three times over before it could be understood. One of the three could have delivered the message in one-third of the time. Mr Darnley and his son at length understood that the family at Neverden Hall were in the utmost consternation at the loss of Miss Glossop, who was missing, and nowhere to be found. The gentlemen then quitted the study, and hastened to contribute their share of condolence and conjectures to the distressed Lady Aimwell. “Oh, Mr Darnley!” exclaimed her ladyship, in a tone so pathetic that we would not venture to describe it if we were able--“only think of that ungrateful and wicked creature Arabella Glossop, after all the kindness she had experienced at the hall, to leave us in this disgraceful manner!”