"But, my leet-le child!" expostulated Pierre, climbing up into the queer vehicle--"What is all this? I am in astonishment--I understand not at all! How comes it that you are run away from home, and Mademoiselle also?"
Britta only waited till he was safely seated, and then lashed the pony with redoubled force. Away they clattered at a break-neck pace, the Frenchman having much ado to prevent himself from being jolted out again on the road.
"It is a wicked plot!" she then exclaimed, panting with excitement--"a wicked, wicked plot! This afternoon Mr. Dyceworthy's servant came and brought Sir Philip's card. It said that he had met with an accident and had been brought back to Bosekop, and that he wished the Fröken to come to him at once. Of course, the darling believed it all--and she grew so pale, so pale! And she went straight away in her boat all by herself! Oh my dear--my dear!"
Britta gasped for breath, and Duprèz soothingly placed an arm round her waist, an action which the little maiden seemed not to be aware of. She resumed her story--"Then the Fröken had not been gone so very long, and I was watching for her in the garden, when a woman passed by--a friend of my grandmother's. She called out--'Hey, Britta! Do you know they have got your mistress down at Talvig, and they'll burn her for a witch before they sleep!' 'She has gone to Bosekop,' I answered, 'so I know you tell a lie.' 'It is no lie,' said the old woman, 'old Lovisa has her this time for sure.' And she laughed and went away. Well, I did not stop to think twice about it--I started off for Talvig at once--I ran nearly all the way. I found my grandmother alone--I asked her if she had seen the Fröken? She screamed and clapped her hands like a mad woman! she said that the Fröken was with Mr. Dyceworthy--Mr. Dyceworthy would know what to do with her!"
"Sapristi!" ejaculated Duprèz. "This is serious!"
Britta glanced anxiously at him, and went on. "Then she tried to shut the doors upon me and beat me--but I escaped. Outside I saw a man I knew with his carriole, and I borrowed it of him and came back as fast as I could--but oh! I am so afraid--my grandmother said such dreadful things!"
"The others have taken a boat to Bosekop," said Duprèz, to reassure her. "They may be there by now."