hat the delay was caused by an agricultural engine, which had
chosen this unlucky night, or morning, to travel from one farm to
another. There was a long delay, while the monster could be heard
coughing frightfully before it could be backed with its spiky companion
into a field so as to let the carriages pass by; and meantime Mr.
Egremont was betrayed into uttering ejaculations which made poor Nuttie
round her eyes in the dark as she sat by his feet on the back seat, and
Alice try to bury her ears in her hood in the corner.

On they went at last, for about a mile, and then came another sudden
stop--another fierce growl from Mr. Egremont, another apparition of the
servant at the window, saying, in his alert deferential manner, 'Sir,
the bridge have broke under a carriage in front. Lady Delmar's, sir.
The horse is plunging terrible.'

The door was torn open, and all three, regardless of ball costumes,
precipitated themselves out.

The moon was up, and they saw the Rectory carriage safe on the road
before them, but on the bridge beyond was a struggling mass, dimly
illuminated by a single carriage lamp. Mr. Egremont and the groom
hurried forward where Mark and the Rectory coachman were already
rendering what help they could. May standing at the horses' heads, and
her mother trying to wrap everybody up, since stay in their carriages
they could not. Transferring the horses to Nuttie, the two sisters
hurried on towards the scene of action, but Blanche's white satin boots
did not carry her far, and she turned on meeting her uncle. He spoke
with a briskness and alacrity that made him like another man in this
emergency, as he assured the anxious ladies that their friends were
safe, but that they could not be extricated till the carriage was
lifted from the hole into which it had sunk amid bricks, stones, and
broken timbers. He sent his own coachman to assist, as being the
stronger man, and, mounting the box, turned and drove off in quest of
further help, at a wayside cottage, or from the attendants on the
engine, whose weight had probably done the mischief, and prepared the
trap for the next comer.

As May came near, her brother made her available by putting the lamp
into her hand, bidding her hold it so as to light those who were
endeavouring to release the horse, which had cleared the portion of the
bridge before the break-down under the brougham, and now lay on the
road, its struggles quelled by a servant at its head