“And by the time we came back, there would not be a living creature, horse or man, anything bigger than a rat, about the stable. Kelpie herself would be dead of hunger, if she hadn’t been shot. No, no; where Malcolm goes Kelpie must go. Besides, she’s such fun--you can’t think!” “Then I’ll tell you what!” cried Clementina, after a moment’s pause of perplexity: “we’ll _ride_ down! It’s not a hundred miles, and we can take as many days on the road as we please.” “Better and better!” cried Florimel. “We’ll run away with each other.--But what will dear old Bellair say?” “Never mind her,” rejoined Clementina. “She will have nothing to say. You can write and tell her as much as will keep her from being really alarmed. Order your man to get everything ready, and I will instruct mine. He is such a staid old fellow, you know, he will be quite protection. To-morrow morning we shall set out together for a ride in Richmond Park--that lying in our way. You can leave a letter on the breakfast-table, saying you are gone with me for a little quiet. You’re not in chancery--are you?” “I don’t know,” answered Florimel. “I suppose I’m all right.-- Any how, whether I’m in chancery or not, here I am, and going with you; and if chancery don’t like it, chancery may come and fetch me.” “Send anything you think you may want to my house. I shall get a box ready, and we will write from some town on our way to have it sent there, and then we can write for it from The Gloom. We shall find all mere _necessaries_ there.” So the thing was arranged: they would start quite early the next morning; and that there might be no trouble in the streets, Malcolm should go before with Kelpie, and wait them in the park. CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE JOURNEY. Malcolm was overjoyed at the prospect of an escape to the country --and yet more to find that his mistress wanted to have him with her--more still to understand, that the journey was to be kept a secret. Perhaps now, far from both Caley and Liftore, he might say something to open her eyes; yet how should he avoid the appearance of a tale-bearer?