It seems that my uncle, as soon as the fire was out, finding that my
arm was broken, set out to send the groom for the doctor--he being
used to range the park at night. The stupid fellow, coming home half
tipsy from the village, saw his white hair and beard in the moonlight,
took him for a ghost, and ran off headlong. Thereupon my uncle,
with new energy in the time of need, saddled the horse, changed his
dressing-gown with the groom's coat, and rode off to Brentford. Then,
finding that Dr. Hunter was not within, he actually went on to London,
where Dr. Sandys, who had attended him ever since his would, forced
him to go to bed, and to remain there till his own return. Thus my
darling had no one to protect her, when, an hour or so after the
accident, my mother suddenly appeared. Spies had been set on me by
Mar, and so soon as they had brought intelligence of my movements
she had hurried off from Ranelagh, in full dress, just as she was,
to track and surprise me. My uncle, having gone by the bridle path,
had not met her, and I was only beginning to return to my senses. I
have a dim recollection of hearing my mother threatening and accusing
Aurelia, and striving to interfere, but I was as one bound down, and
all after that is blank to me. When my understanding again became
clear, I could only learn that my mother had locked her into her own
room, whence she had escaped, and"--with a groan--"nothing has been
heard of her since!" Again he dropped his head on his hand as one
in utter dejection.
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