A CATASTROPHE AVERTED. 391 



sudden tliouglifc struck Lim. He liad a new liuiiting-liorn ia 

 the pocket of the carriage, which had been sent home from. 

 Percival's that morning, just before he left Grosvenor Square, 

 which instantly seizing, he sent forth a blast so shrill and 

 loud, that it penetrated the waggoner's dull ear amidst his din 

 of bells, and the heavy vehicle was seen turning slowly aside. 

 Still there seemed scarcely a chance of its giving room to pass 

 before the leaders would be even with its hind wheels, and 

 Beauchamp, fearing the crisis v/as at hand, and telling Malcolm 

 to do the same to Constance, seized Blanche firmly with his 

 right arm round the waist, taking tight hold of the handle 0/ 

 the carriage door with his left. The act was instantaneous, 

 and as they passed the heavy, lumbering machine, the exclama- 

 tion escaped him, *' Thank God ! we are saved." Blanche 

 neither moved nor spoke, overcome by Beauchamp's manner, and 

 the dread of some imminent peril. 



" Now, my love," he whispered, " we have escajDed the 

 danger, sit firm a few minutes longer, and I will soon stop your 

 fiery bays." They were already beginning to slacken their pace 

 a little, which was evident to Beauchamp*s quick eye, their 

 heads being raised, and their ears becoming erect, when raising 

 his voice he shouted out, " Hold hard ! " In a moment their 

 speed diminished. " Hold hard ! " again cried Beauchamp, " you 

 runaway brutes ! hold hard ! " These words seemed magical. 

 The race was over ; and all four horses stood still. 



" Let them stand till I get out, my lads," Beauchamp cried. 

 He then folded Blanche in his arms, who burst into tears. 



" Come, come, my dear girl, it is all over now, and we will 

 have no more galloping to-day." 



Malcolm, warned by Beauchamp, and following his example, 

 had held Constance tight round the waist as they were passing 

 the waggon, and his face became ghastly pale, with a shudder- 

 ing sensation, as the wheels just grazed each other ; but when 

 the danger was over, his levity quickly returned. 



" By Jeremy Diddler ! that was an uncommon near shave — 

 just half an inch, and — oh ! my, as Mrs. Winter has it — what 

 an hexpose we should have made — all legs and wings sprawling 

 in the road, like two couf)les of untrussed chickens." 



" For shame, Charles ! " exclaimed Constance, " to make a 

 joke of such a serious matter, when our lives might have beea 

 lost through your frolic." 



" Well then, my dear, you and Blanct e can do a little d la 

 Niobe, whilst I and Beauchamp look over the nags." 



