Violet Jacob > Flemington

JETSAM 19
James smiled faintly, making the little twist in
his lip more apparent.
" Come out to the steps and look at the night,”
said he, snatching, like most restless men, at the
chance of movement.
They went out through the hall. James un¬
barred the front door and the two stood at the
top of the flight of stone steps.
The entrance to Balnillo House faced north¬
ward, and a wet wind from the east, slight still,
but rising, struck upon their right cheeks and
carried the heavy muffled booming in through
the trees. Balnillo looked frowning at their tops,
which had begun to sway; but his brother’s
attention was fixed upon a man’s figure, which
was emerging from the darkness of the grass
park in front of them.
“ Who is that ?” cried the judge, as the footsteps
grew audible.
“ It’s a coach at the ford, ma lord—a muckle
coach that’s couped i’ the water! Wully an’ Tam
an’ Andrew Robieson are seekin’ to ca’ it oot, but
it’s fast, ma lord ”
“ Is there anyone in it ?” interrupted James.
“ Ay, there was. But he’s oot noo.”
“Where is he ?”
“ He’ll na’ get forward the night,” continued the
man. “ Ane of the horse is lame. He cursin’,
ma lord, an’ nae wonder—he can curse bonnie!
Robieson’s got his wee laddie wi’ him, and he
gar’d the loonie put his hands to his lugs. He’s
an elder, ye see.”