By his advice I sprinkled strong essences all over the poor
little girl's head, snatched her up in my arms, and before she had
breath to scream hurried down stairs with her. She was about three
years old, and it was not till I was almost at the outer door that
she began to kick and struggle. My mind was made up to return as
soon as she was safe. It was impossible to leave that poor woman to
deal alone with three such cases, and I knew what my brother would
feel about it. And all fell out better than I could have hoped, for
under the porte cochere was the coach in which we had come to Lady
Newcastle's. My sister, learning that I had gone home with Madame
van Hunker, had driven thither to fetch me, and Nicolas was vainly
trying to find some one to tell me that she was waiting. I carried
the child, now sobbing and calling for her mother, to the carriage,
and explained the state of affairs as well as I could while trying to
hush her. Annora was quick to understand, and not slow to approve.
'The brutes!' she said. 'Have they abandoned them? Yes, Meg, you
are safe, and you cannot help staying. Give me the poor child! I
will do my best for her. O yes! I will take care of Eustace, and
I'll send you your clothes. I wish it was any one else, but he will
be glad. So adieu, and take care of yourself! Come, little one, do
not be afraid. We are going to see a kind gentleman.'
But as poor little Emilia knew no English, this must have failed to
console her, and they drove away amid her sobs and cries, while I
returned to my strange task.
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