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Chapter 24 The Lady Anne or A Runaway Horse Early in the spring,
The Lord of Ulshore and part of his family went up to London and took York with them.
I and Ginger and some other horses were left at home for use,
And the head groom was left in charge.
The Lady Harriet,
Who remained at the hall,
Was a great invalid and never went out in the carriage,
And the Lady Anne preferred riding on horseback with her brother or cousins.
She was a perfect horsewoman and as gay and gentle as she was beautiful.
She chose me for her horse and named me Black Orster.
I enjoyed these rides very much in the clear cold air,
Sometimes with Ginger,
Sometimes with Lizzie.
This Lizzie was a bright bay mare,
Almost thoroughbred,
And a great favourite with the gentleman on account of her fine action and lively spirit.
But Ginger,
Who knew more of her than I did,
Told me she was rather nervous.
There was a gentleman of the name of Blantyres staying at the hall.
He always rode Lizzie and praised her so much that one day Lady Anne ordered the side saddle to be put on her and the other saddle on me.
When we came to the door,
The gentleman seemed very uneasy.
How is this?
He said,
Are you tired of your good Black Orster?
Oh no,
Not at all,
She replied,
But I'm amiable enough to let you ride him for once.
I'll try your charming Lizzie.
You must confess that in size and appearance she's far more like a lady's horse than my own favourite.
Do let me advise you not to mount her,
He said,
She's a charming creature but she's too nervous for a lady.
Now I assure you,
She is not perfectly safe.
Let me beg you to have the saddles changed.
My dear cousin,
Said Lady Anne laughing,
Pray do not trouble your good careful head about me.
I've been a horsewoman ever since I was a baby and I've followed the hounds a great many times,
Though I know you do not approve of ladies hunting.
But still that is the fact and I intend to try this Lizzie that you gentlemen are all so fond of.
Please help me to mount like a good friend as you are.
There was no more to be said.
He placed her carefully on the saddle,
Looked to the bitten curb,
Gave the reins gently into her hand and then he mounted me.
Just as we were moving off a footman came out with a slip of paper and message from the Lady Harriet.
Would they ask this question for her at Dr Ashley's and bring the answer?
The village was about a mile off and the doctor's house was the last in it.
We went along gaily enough until we came to his gate.
There was a short drive up to the house between tall evergreens.
Blantyre alighted at the gate and was going to open it for Lady Anne but she said,
I'll wait for you here and you can hang Auster's rein on the gate.
He looked at her doubtfully.
I will not be five minutes,
He said.
Oh,
Do not hurry yourself.
Lizzie and I shall not run away from you.
He hung my rein on one of the iron spikes and was soon hidden among the trees.
Lizzie was standing quietly by the side of the road a few paces off with her back to me.
My young mistress was sitting easily with a loose rein humming a little song.
I listened to my rider's footsteps until they reached the house and heard him knock at the door.
There was a meadow on the opposite side of the road,
The gate of which stood open and just then some cart horses and several young colts came trotting out in a very disorderly manner while a boy behind was cracking a great whip.
The colts were wild and frolicsome and one of them bolted across the road and blundered up against Lizzie's hind legs and she gave a violent kick and dashed off into a headlong gallop.
It was so sudden Lady Anne was nearly unseated but she soon recovered herself.
I gave a loud shrill neigh for help.
Again and again I neighed,
Pawing the ground impatiently and tossing my head to get the rein loose.
I had not long to wait.
Blantyre came running to the gate.
He looked anxiously about and he caught sight of the flying figure now far away down the road.
In an instant he sprang to the saddle.
I needed no whip,
No spur for I was as eager as my rider.
He saw it and giving me free rein he leaned a little forwards and we dashed after them.
For about a mile and a half the road ran straight and then it bent to the right after which it divided into two roads.
Long before we came to the bend the lady was out of sight.
Which way had she turned?
A woman was standing at her garden gate shading her eyes with her hand and looking eagerly up the road.
Scarcely drawing the rein Blantyre shouted,
To the right!
Cried the woman pointing with her hand and away we went up the right hand road.
For a moment we caught sight of her then there was another bend and she was hidden again.
Several times we caught glimpses and then lost them.
We scarcely seemed to gain ground upon them at all.
An old road mender was standing near a heap of stones his shovel dropped and his hands raised.
As we came near he made a sign to speak.
Blantyre drew the rein a little.
To the common,
To the common sir,
She started off there.
I knew the common very well for it was for the most part very uneven ground covered with heather and dark green firs bushes with here and there a scrubby old thorn tree.
There were also open spaces of fine short grass with anthills and mole turns everywhere.
This was the worst place I ever knew for a headlong gallop.
We had hardly turned on the common when we caught sight again of the green habit flying on before us.
My lady's hat was now gone and her long brown hair was streaming behind her.
Her head and body were thrown back as if she was pulling with all her remaining strength and as if that strength were nearly exhausted.
It was clear the roughness of the ground had very much lessened Lizzy's speed.
There now seemed a chance we might overtake her.
While we were on the high road Blantyre had given me my head but now with a light hand and a practised eye he guided me over the ground in such a masterly manner my pace was scarcely slackened and we were decidedly gainy on them.
About half way across the heath there'd been a wide dyke recently cut and the earth from the cutting was cast up roughly on the other side.
Surely this would stop them I thought.
But no,
With scarcely a pause Lizzy took the leap.
She stumbled among the rough clods and she fell.
Blantyre groaned.
Do your best,
Horster,
He said and he gave me a steady rein so I gathered myself well together and with one determined leap I cleared both the dyke and the bank.
Motionless among the heather with her face to the earth lay my poor mistress.
Blantyre kneeled down and called her name but there was no sound.
Gently he turned her face upwards.
It was ghastly white and her eyes were closed.
Annie,
Dear Annie,
Do speak,
He pleaded but there was no answer.
He unbuttoned her habit,
Loosened her collar and felt her hands and wrist then started up and looked wildly about.
At no great distance there were two men cutting turf who seeing Lizzy running wild without a rider had left their work to catch her.
Blantyre's hello soon brought them to the spot.
The foremost man seemed much troubled at the sight and he asked what he could do.
Can you ride,
Said Blantyre.
Well,
Sir,
I ain't much of an horseman but I'll risk my neck for the Lady Anne.
She was uncommon good to my wife in the winter.
Then mount this horse,
He said,
Your neck will be quite safe and ride to the doctor's and ask him to come instantly then on to the hall,
Tell them all that you know and bid them send me the carriage with Lady Anne's maid in it.
All right,
Sir,
I'll do my best and I pray God the dear young lady may open her eyes soon.
Then seeing the other man,
He somehow scrambled into the saddle calling out,
Here,
Joe,
Run for some water and tell my missus to come as quick as she can to see to the Lady Anne.
