A RELIEF. 
437 
she is!” Finally, Matilda did get in, and 
they arrived at home without any mishap,— 
rather, as it seemed, to the young lady’s dis¬ 
appointment. Richard had arrived a few 
minutes before them, in the greatest alarm, 
having found the railing of the bridge 
broken down and Annie’s mantle floating 
on the water. It was a wonderful relief to 
find the two girls safely in bed in different 
rooms, and neither apparently much the 
worse for the accident. Matilda was at first 
inclined to get up a scene over Annie; but, 
this being strictly forbidden, she gave way 
to her ill-humour, and declared that it was 
all Antoinette’s fault,—that she had spoiled 
the afternoon’s pleasure, as she always 
spoiled every thing she had any thing to do 
with, and that it would never have happened 
if she had not -taken a freak to walk alone 
with Annie instead of riding with her. It 
ended with her grandfather’s threatening to 
send her to bed if she did not behave herself, 
which so hurt her dignity that she remained 
silent and sulky for the rest of the evening. 
The next morning Annie was able to get 
up to breakfast, though she confessed to 
feeling rather tired and languid. She urged 
37 * 
