his study. He was looking restless and anxious, came to meet her,
and uncloaked her, while he affectionately scolded her for being so
venturesome. She told him where she had been, and he smiled, saying,
'You are a busy spirit! But you must not be too imprudent.'

'Oh, nothing hurts me. It is poor Gilbert that I am anxious about.'

'So am I. Gilbert has not a constitution fit for exposure. I wish
he were come home.'

'Could we not send for him? Suppose we sent a fly.'

He was consenting with a pleased smile, when the door opened, and
there stood the dripping Gilbert, completely wet through, pale and
chilled, with his hair plastered down, and his coat stuck all over
with the horse's short hair.

'You must go to bed at once, Gilbert,' said his father. 'Are you
cold?'

'Very. It was such a horrid driving wind, and I rode so fast,' said
Gilbert; violently shivering, as they helped to pull him out of his
great coat; he put his hand to his mouth, and said that his face
ached. Mr. Kendal was very anxious, and Albinia hurried the boy up
to bed, and meantime ordered quickly a basin of the soup preparing
for dinner, warmed some worsted socks at the fire, and ran upstairs
with them.

He seemed to have no substance in him; he had hardly had energy to
undress himself, and she found him with his face hidden on the