Think who this girl was we were running away with! What reckless fools
we were not to have seen the utter hopelessness, certain failure, and
deadly peril of our act; treason black as Plutonian midnight. But
Providence seems to have an especial care for fools, while wise men
are left to care for themselves, and it does look as if safety lies in
folly.
We rode on and on, and although I took two occasions, in the presence
of others, to urge Mary to return, owing to the approach of night and
threatened rain, she took her own head, as everybody knew she always
would, and continued the hunt.
Just before dark, as we neared the rendezvous, Mary and I managed to
ride ahead of the party quite a distance. At last we saw a heron rise,
and the princess uncapped her hawk.
"This is my chance," she said; "I will run away from you now and lose
myself; keep them off my track for five minutes and I shall be safe.
Good-bye, Edwin; you and Jane are the only persons I regret to leave.
I love you as my brother and sister.
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