"Take up your rein," he said, with a strange voice,--"quick!--we must
ride fast out of this."
I made no reply, for I was trying to untie the handkerchief. The knot
was too firm.
"No, no," he said, when he perceived what I was doing, "let it be so."
"Untie it, Sir!"
"I will not."
I put my face down between the horses' necks and bit it apart, and
thrust it into my bosom.
"Now," I said, "shall we ride fast?"
He shook his rein, and we rode fiercely,--past our party, who shouted
at us,--through the wood,--over the brow of the great hill, from whose
top we saw the dark, motionless sea,--through the long street,--and
through my father's gateway into the stable-yard, where I leaped from
my horse, and, bridle in hand, said, "Good night!" in a loud voice.
Redmond swung his hat and galloped off.
Early next morning, Laura sent me a note:--
"DEAR MARGARET,--I have an ague, and mean to have it till Sunday night.
The pines did it. Did you bring home any needles? On Monday, mother
will give one of her whist-parties. I shall add a dozen or two of our
set; you will come.
"P.S. What do you think of Mr. Harry Lothrop? Good young man, eh?"
I was glad that Laura had shut herself up for a few days; I dreaded to
see her just now.
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