Rupert was very willing to comply with
her request; but Elizabeth recommended Dora to leave them till they
should return, and not to take the trouble of carrying them to
Whistlefar Castle and back again.
Leaving the river, they began to ascend a steep chalky lane, which
had been wet all the winter, and was now full of rough hardened
wheel-ruts and holes made by slipping horses. Elizabeth thought that
Robert Bruce's calthorps could hardly have made the ground more
uneven, and she was just going to say so, when Helen groaned out,
'What a horrid place! I slip and bruise my ancle every minute.'
Upon which she immediately took the other side of the question, and
answered, 'It is not nearly so bad as the long lane on the down, and
you never complain of that.'
'Oh! but this is all up-hill,' said Helen.
'I am not in the least tired, Helen,' said Dora, who with Rupert's
assistance was taking flying leaps over the ruts.
'You? no, I should think not,' said Helen, in so piteous a tone, that
Rupert very good-naturedly waited till she came up to him, and then
offered her his arm.
Pages:
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253