But just at this moment a gentleman, mounted on a very knowing
little cob, came cantering up, exclaiming, as he reached the
pony carriage, "My dear Joan, I am looking after you. I have
been in the greatest alarm for you. There are riots on the
other side of the river, and I was afraid you might have
crossed the bridge."
Upon this, Lady Joan related to Mr Mountchesney how she had
just become acquainted with the intelligence, and then they
conversed together for a moment or so in a whisper: when
turning round to Sybil, she said, "I think you had really
better come home with us till affairs are a little more
quiet."
"You are most kind," said Sybil, "but if I could get back to
the town through Mowbray Park, I think I might do something
for my father!"
"We are going to the Castle through the park at this moment,"
said the gentleman. "You had better come with us. There you
will at least be safe, and perhaps we shall be able to do
something for the good people in trouble over the water," and
so saying, nodding to a groom who, advancing, held his cob,
the gentleman dismounted, and approaching Sybil with great
courtesy, said, "I think we ought all of us to know each
other.
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