The bird fluttered a
few yards and dropped at the feet of Lucy, whose dress was stained with
some spots of its blood.
Miss Ashton was much alarmed, and Ravenswood, surprised and angry,
looked everywhere for the marksman, who had given them a proof of his
skill as little expected as desired. He was not long of discovering
himself, being no other than Henry Ashton, who came running up with a
crossbow in his hand.
"I knew I should startle you," he said; "and do you know, you looked so
busy that I hoped it would have fallen souse on your heads before you
were aware of it. What was the Master saying to you, Lucy?"
"I was telling your sister what an idle lad you were, keeping us waiting
here for you so long," said Ravenswood, to save Lucy's confusion.
"Waiting for me! Why, I told you to see Lucy home, and that I was to go
to make the ring-walk with old Norman in the Hayberry thicket, and you
may be sure that would take a good hour, and we have all the deer's
marks and furnishes got, while you were sitting here with Lucy, like a
lazy loon."
"Well, well, Mr.
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