Jock saw that the note had brought an additional line of care to his
mother's brow, and therefore still more gaily and eagerly adjured her
not to fail in the Long Hanger, and as the shooting party started, he
turned back to wave his cap, and shout, "Sharp two!"
Two o'clock found three hungry youths and numerous dead birds on the
pleasant thymy bank beneath the edge of the beach wood, but gaze as
they might through the clear September air, neither mother, brother,
nor sister was visible. Presently, however, the pony-carriage
appeared, and in it a hamper, but driven only by the stable-boy. He
said a gentleman was at the house, and Mrs. Brownlow was very sorry
that she could not come, but had sent him with the luncheon.
"I shall go and see after her," said Jock; and in spite of all
remonstrance, and assurance that it was only a form of Parsonic
tyranny, he took a draught of ale and a handful of sandwiches, sprang
into the carriage, and drove off, hardly knowing why, but with a
yearning towards his mother, and a sense that all that was unexpected
boded evil. Leaving the pony at the stables, and walking up to the
house, he heard sounds that caused him to look in at the open library
window.
On one side of the table stood his mother, on the other Dr.
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