"I wish they would come home," Rhoda answered. "Do go and meet them, Mr. Merivale. Miss Smythe wanted to drive, and I do not trust her driving."
"Bob doesn't want much driving," Tom answered. But as he spoke he suddenly remembered the traction engine crawling up the hill. For the first time he felt really alarmed. "I will go down the road," he said, moving quickly from the window. "Though I daresay I shall meet them almost at once."
Wilmot followed him into the hall. "Mr. Tom, where can they be?"
"Somewhere on the road between Bingley and our gates," he said lightly. "Don't alarm Miss Sampson or my aunt, Wilmot. But send Ann round to the stables to tell Jack to get my horse ready. If I do not see any sign of them on the road, I will ride towards Bingley."
He went off; and Rhoda, after watching him down the drive, crept upstairs to listen at Miss Merivale's door. But as she crossed the landing the door opened, and Miss Merivale stepped out, a black lace shawl framing the whiteness of her face.
"Rhoda, where has Tom gone?" she asked. "How still the house is! Haven't Rose and Miss Smythe come back?"
"Not yet," answered Rhoda lightly. "Bob's shoe got loose, you know. They were delayed at the village."
"But it is nearly dark. Something must have happened. Let us go down to the gate, Rhoda. I am frightened."
Rhoda could not persuade her to let her go alone, and they went together down the drive. Tom had just ridden off; they could hear the sound of his horse's feet on the hilly road. But when that died away, a long period of silence ensued. They went out of the gates and down the hill towards the station, Miss Merivale clinging to Rhoda.
It was after what seemed hours to them both that they heard a horse trotting rapidly towards them. Miss Merivale leant against the low stone wall that divided the road on one side from the common.
"Rhoda, that is Tom. I could tell Black Beauty's trot anywhere. Go on to meet him, dear. I cannot go any farther."
Rhoda went quickly on. It was Tom; he sprang off his horse on catching sight of her.
"Miss Smythe has been badly hurt," he said. "She is at the Rectory. Rose is with her."
"A bruise or two. They met that traction engine; Miss Smythe was driving, and tried to make Bob pass it. The result was that Bob bolted down the hill."