"Joe, don't be alarmed! It is Mrs. Berners herself who speaks to you,
and I am with her," said Mr. Berners, soothingly.
"Oh, Marse Lyon! Is it ralely and truly her herself and you yourself?"
inquired the man, very doubtingly.
"Really and truly Sybil and myself, Joe."
"Oh! Lord! how you did scare me!"
"Compose yourself, Joe, and tell me what you are doing here at this time
of the morning."
"Oh, Marse Lyon, sir, I came arter the housekeeping truck as you left
here, which I couldn't get a chance to fetch it before, 'cause I was
afraid o' 'citin' 'spicion."
"And have you the things in that cart?"
"Yes, Marse."
"Then hold on for a moment, and spread the mattress on the bottom of the
cart for your young mistress to lie down upon and rest, while you and I
have a little talk."
Joe promptly obeyed this order; and when the rude bed was ready, Lyon
lifted Sybil from her seat and laid her upon it. The tired horses were
then relieved from their saddles and turned loose for a while. And then
Mr. Berners and Joe sat down by the roadside to consult.
"And first I want you to tell me, Joe, whether our sojourn at the
Haunted Chapel ever was found out," said Mr. Berners.
"Lor, no, sir! it never were even suspicioned! quite contrary wise,
indeed."
"How so?"
"Why, it was 'ported 'round as you was bofe at Marster Capping
Pendulum's all the time, which when himself was taxed with it, he never
let on as you wasn't there; quite contrary wise, as I said afore."
"But how now?"
"Well, he up and 'fied 'em all, and said his house was his cassil,
which he would shelter any one he pleased, and specially a noble and
injured lady."
"High heart! I thank him!" exclaimed Mr. Berners.
"Which 'fiance you see, sir, confarmed everybody in the faith that you
was bofe hid in his house, so artfully as even the sarch-warranters as
went there couldn't find you. And so, sir, nobody, from first to last,
has once said 'Haunted Chapel.'"
"Joe, how far are we from the Haunted Chapel?"
"Not more 'n a mile, sir, from the little path that leads up to it."
"Well, I think we had better go there again and rest to-day, and resume
our journey to-night. There can be no safer place."
"No whar in all the world, sir."
"Then we will go at once. Throw the saddles into the cart, at your
mistress' feet, so as not to crowd her. I will then drive the cart, and
you may lead the two riding horses after us," said Mr. Berners, going at
once to the side of the rude vehicle where Sybil lay in so deep a sleep
that she did not wake, even when he mounted the seat and started the
springless cart jolting along the rough road.