Gnashing his
teeth with ill-suppressed fury, he strode into the hall just as Mrs.
Rocke and Clara, in her traveling dress, descended the stairs.
Clara threw her arms around Mrs. Rocke's neck, and, weeping, said:
"Good-by, dear, best friend--good-by! Heaven grant it may not be for
long! Oh, pray for me, that I may be sent back to you!"
"May the Lord have you in His holy keeping, my child I shall pray
until I hear from you!" said Marah, kissing and releasing her.
Colonel Le Noir then took her by the hand, led her out, and put her
into the carriage.
Just before entering Clara had turned to take a last look at her old
home--all, friends and servants, noticed the sorrowful, anxious,
almost despairing look of her pale face, which seemed to ask:
"Ah, shall I ever, ever return to you, dear old home, and dear,
familiar friends?"
In another instant she had disappeared within the carriage, which
immediately rolled off.
As the carriage was heavily laden, and the road was in a very bad
condition, it was a full hour before they reached the town of
Staunton. As the carriage drew up for a few moments before the door
of the principal hotel, and Colonel Le Noir was in the act of
stepping out, a sheriff's officer, accompanied by Dr. Williams,
approached, and served upon the colonel a writ of habeas corpus,
commanding him to bring his ward, Clara Day, into court.
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