o Wilton's
countenance with the same affectionate and confiding glance, yet
there was evidently a degree of apprehension in her countenance,
when, for a moment, she turned her eyes to Lord Sherbrooke. She bowed
her head gracefully to him, however, and uttered some broken thanks to
him and to Wilton, for coming to her deliverance.
"Pardon me, dear Lady Laura," replied Lord Sherbrooke. "I must accept
no part of your thanks, for my being here is entirely accidental, and
I cannot even offer to escort you on your departure. It is Wilton who
has sought you bravely and perseveringly, and I doubt not you will go
with him with perfect confidence."
"Anywhere, anywhere," said Lady Laura, with a tone and a look which
at another moment might have called up a smile upon Lord Sherbrooke's
countenance; but his own heart was also so full of deep feelings at
that time, that he could not look upon them lightly enough even for a
smile, when he detected them in another.
"I will go down and make sure that there is no trickery below," said
the man called the Captain; "and when I call--Now! come down with the
lady, Mr. Brown."
Lord Sherbrooke at the same moment took leave of them, and left the
room; and Lady Laura, without quitting her position by Wilton's side,
which she seemed to consider a place of sure refuge and support, held
out her hand to the Lady Helen, saying, "Oh, how can I thank you,
lady, for all your kindness? Had it not been for you, I should never
have obtained this deliverance."
"I need no thanks, my sweet friend," replied the lady "the only
things that give sunshine to the memories of a sad life are some few
acts of kindness and sympathy which I have been able to perform
towards others. But if you want to thank me," she added, looking
with a smile upon Wilton, "thank him, Lady Laura, for he is the being
dearest to me upon earth."
Lady Laura looked somewhat surprised; but Wilton held up his finger,
thinking he heard their companion's call. It was not so, however, but
only a quick step upon the stairs; and the next moment the Captain
entered, with some marks of agitation on his countenance.
"By ---!" he said, "there seems to me to be a whole troop of horse
before the house--such a clatter of iron-shod feet. I fear we have
the enemy upon us, and Plessis has run to hide himself; frightened
out of his wits. What can we do?"
"Come all into the lady's chamber, or into mine," said Lady
Helen--"perhaps they may not think of searching for her. At all
events, i