Before me was a winding road fringed with dripping, sombre trees and
reining Wildfire to a standstill, I found that the wind had greatly
abated its fury. But though the storm was over, the storm within me
raged fierce as ever; therefore, heedless of where the morning found
me, I spurred Wildfire forward and rode with slackened rein, leaving
him to take me where he would.
A black-bodied chaise--What should bring Diana in company with such
brutal satyr as Captain Danby?
Lost thus in agonising thought, I was riding with loosened rein and
lax grip when Wildfire shied, swerved violently, throwing me from the
saddle, and lying half-stunned, I heard him gallop away down the road.
For a while I lay there with no desire to move, but at last, summoning
all my resolution, I scrambled weakly to my feet and endeavoured to
follow, but after some while, wondered to see it so dark and found I
was among trees that closed about me ever denser. Yet I struggled on,
pushing my way haphazard through the undergrowth, being yet much
shaken by my fall, until I came out into a narrow way lit by the moon;
but scarcely was I here than I paused to lean against a tree, overcome
by a sick faintness. And thus leaned I some while to recover my
strength, and in my ears the dismal drip, drip of sodden trees and the
mournful sighing of the wind in their branches, a sigh that rose every
now and then to a low wailing, very dreadful to hear.
Now, all at once, I lifted my aching head, for, as my brain cleared, I
knew that this wailing was not of the wind; thus I stood with breath
in check waiting for it to come again.
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