"
My lady divined only too well. She gave a prolonged series of shrieks,
jumped out of bed, flung on any clothes that came uppermost, and
started in pursuit of him, to the intense wonder of Martha, and to the
astonishment of Helstonleigh, as she flew wildly through the streets to
the station. The sight of Hamish at a carriage-door guided her to her
runagate son.
She sprang into the carriage--it was well, I say, that it was
empty!--and overwhelmed him with a torrent of reproaches, all the while
kissing and hugging him. Not two minutes could be given to their
farewell, for the time was up, and Lady Augusta had to descend again,
weeping bitterly.
"Take care of her home, Hamish," said Roland, putting his head out.
"Mother dear, you'll live to say I have done well, yet. You'll see me
come home, one of these fine days, with a covered waggon after me,
bringing the bags of gold." Poor Roland!
The train steamed off, and Lady Augusta, to the discomfiture of Hamish,
and the admiration of the porters and station boys, set off at full
speed after it, wringing her hands, and tearing her hair, and sobbing
and shrieking out that "She'd go--she'd go with it! that she should
never see her darling boy again!" With some difficulty Hamish soothed
her down to tolerable calmness, and put her into a fly.
They were scarcely beyond the station when she suddenly bent forward to
Hamish, who sat on the seat opposite to her, and seized his hands.
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