Tory affectionately studied her uncle, his fine scholarly face unusually reddened and glowing by the surprising exertions of his struggles through the drifted snow. His shoulders, oftentimes slightly bowed, were now erect in order that he might better survey his surroundings.
Plainly he was more troubled than Tory by what might lie ahead.
Suddenly the Emperor halted and glanced backward with an expression of imploring anxiety, then swerving toward the left, he galloped toward a small grove of pine trees. His patience was finally exhausted.
Mr. Fenton brought his horse to a standstill.
“Stay here, please, Tory,” he said quietly, but in a tone of authority that would be instinctively obeyed.
More cautiously and slowly he followed their guide.
Tory suffered in the next interval of ten minutes.
She watched Mr. Fenton striding through the opening toward the small grove of trees. Then from her present position she was unable to see him.
Of course it was only a few moments, but it seemed interminable to Tory before she heard him calling her name in a tone of voice entirely new to her ears.
Getting out of the sleigh, she ran in the direction she had seen Mr. Fenton take, fighting her way with her arms and hands as well as her feet and legs.
Without realizing what she had done, she left the horse standing midway in the snow-piled country road.
Before Tory reached the grove of trees Mr. Fenton appeared at the edge, his dark figure against the white background. He was staggering under a heavy load.
No longer running ahead but close beside him stalked the Emperor with downcast head.
Tory gave a cry of mingled fear and pain.
The weight Mr. Fenton was carrying was the figure of a woman. Her coat was encrusted with snow, her body appeared entirely limp and lifeless. About the figure there was a bewildering familiarity.
An instant Tory sank to the ground. Memory Frean had been out all night trying to find her way home to the House in the Woods. She, of all persons, to have lost her way in a storm, with her knowledge of the outdoor world!
What must be done? Tory rose up but did not go forward to offer aid. Instead, she floundered back the way she had come, not many yards in reality. As soon as possible she reached her horse’s head and attempted to turn him from the road.