A pane of glass was shattered, and Maurice
ran down to the lawn to see if he could find anything there to
account for it. The next moment he returned, the powder-horn in his
hand. 'See, Jenny, how fortunate that this was driven through the
window with the force of the explosion. The whole place might have
been blown to atoms with such a quantity as this.'
'Then what was it that blew up?' asked Jane.
'What I had put out for my rocket, about two ounces. If this half-
pound had gone there is no saying what might have happened.'
'Now, Maurice,' said Jane, 'I must go back to Ada, and will you run
down to the parsonage with a parcel, directed to Robert, that you
will find in the hall?'
This was a device to occupy Maurice, who, as Jane saw, was so
restless and unhappy that she did not like to leave him, much as she
was wanted elsewhere. He went, but afraid to see his cousin, only
left the parcel at the door. As he was going back he heard a shout,
and looking round saw Lord Rotherwood mounted on Cedric, his most
spirited horse, galloping up the lane. 'Maurice!' cried he, 'what is
all this? they say the New Court is blown up, and you and half the
girls killed, but I hope one part is as true as the other.
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