Sally James Read Free

began a furious attack on the heels of the horses.
    It was all Woodward could do to retain his seat and hold on to the other horses, who were tugging in fruitless efforts to escape the attentions of the dog. Prudence and Netta instinctively stepped forward to help Woodward by taking the reins, just as a young girl, weeping hysterically, threw herself into the melee and tried to pull the dog from under the horses' hooves.
    This sudden eruption completed the chaos. Netta's mare, a spirited but nervous creature, reared, dragging Nctta off balance. Prudence grabbed at the mare as Netta stumbled, fell sideways, and, as the horses were brought under control, lay frighteningly still.
     
    Chapter 2
     
    Handing the reins to Woodward, Prudence dropped to her knees beside her cousin. She was pale but still breathing, and already a lump was developing just above and behind her ear. Oblivious to the hysterical tears of the other girl, Prudence looked round for help and saw Tanner, her aunt's butler, coming hurriedly towards her followed by two footmen.
    'Tanner, thank Heavens! Carry Miss Netta into the morning room, and send for Doctor Baron. She was kicked, I think. Woodward, there's no more you can do, take the horses round to the stables.'
    She rose to her feet, suddenly noticing that she was trembling violently, and took a deep breath to steady her nerves. As she began to follow the footman who was carrying Netta's limp form her hand was seized and she 1ooked round, startled, to find a pretty, dark-haired girl a couple of years younger than herself, with tear stains on her cheeks and her hair in disarray, opening and closing her mouth wordlessly.
    'What is it?' she asked, bewildered, and the girl burst into a flood of tears, incapable of speech.
    Then Prudence noticed the dog which had been the cause of the trouble, cowering behind the girl's skirts, and realised what the girl was trying to say.
    'It was your dog?' she asked, and the girl nodded vehemently, picked the animal up and hugged it close to her, and then found her voice.
    'I am so very sorry! Oh, I wouldn't have hurt her for the world! Fifi is not used to town, you see, and it is so noisy, and noise excites her. She slipped through the door before anyone could prevent it. Your sister will be all right, won't she? Oh, dear, I do hope she will not be too badly hurt. Mama will kill me if she is! Please, is there anything I can do? I do so want to make amends!'
    Prudence regarded the girl, who had once more dissolved into a spate of weeping. She clearly could not be left alone in the street in such a state, and no one from the house next door was visible.
    'You had best come in with us,' she said at last, both impatient with this torrent of words, and anxious to follow Netta.
    The girl, with a muffled word of thanks, followed closely on Prudence's heels as she went into the house. There she found that Miss Francis, Netta's governess, had been summoned, and was capably dealing with a pair of flustered maids, a footman who, having carried Netta indoors, did not know what else to do, and Tanner, who was hovering behind her proffering feathers and hartshorn and brandy all at once.
    'Biddy, pull yourself together and fetch a bowl of cold water and some clean rags. Agnes, fetch some towels and a pillow from Miss Netta's room. Charles, you may go, I have no further need for you. No, thank you, Tanner, no brandy. Please set the other things on this small table beside me, and if you can bring Dr Baron to me as soon as he arrives? Meanwhile, I think you had better try to ensure that Lady Frome is not disturbed with the news until after we have the doctor's diagnosis. We do not wish her to suffer undue anxiety. Ah, Netta, my child, lie still. No, don't attempt to sit up. You have been hit on the head and must lie quietly until the doctor has examined you. Who is this? And what is that dog doing here!'
    'Oh, I beg your pardon,' the girl said in a whisper. 'Is she going to be all right? It