All Albinia thought of was
that the little unruly hand was warm and struggling, prisoned in her
own; all her brother cared for was to have her safely at home. He
led her across the bridge, and into the garden, where they met Mr.
Kendal, who had taken alarm from her absence; Lucy ran up with her
story, and almost at the same moment, Albinia, springing to him,
murmured, 'Oh! Edmund, the great mercy--Maurice;' but there she found
herself making a hoarse shriek; with a mingled sense of fright and
shame, she smothered it, but there was an agony of suffocation, she
felt her husband's arms round her, heard his voice, and her boy's
scream of terror--felt them all unable to help her, and sank into
unconsciousness.
Mr. Ferrars helped Mr. Kendal to carry his wife's inanimate form to
her room. They used all means of restoration, but it was a long,
heavy swoon, and a slow, painful revival. Mr. Kendal would have been
in utter despair at hearing that the doctor was out, but for his
brother, with his ready resources and cheerful encouragement; and
finally, she lifted her eyelids, and as she felt the presence of her
two dearest guardians, whispered, 'Where is he?'
Lucy reported that he was with Susan, and Albinia, after hearing her
husband again assure her that he was quite safe, lay still from
exhaustion, but so calm, that her brother thought them best alone,
and drew Lucy away.
In about a quarter of an hour Mr.
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