Like a fearful dream it had seemed--a strange carriage rolling to the
door, from which emerged her father and another gentleman carrying a
terrible burden, looking supernaturally long in a riding-habit. White
scared faces flitted about; but life was extinct, and there was no
frantic riding for doctors.

There had been a hunt-breakfast that morning, and she well remembered the
envy she had felt at seeing Lady Inez ride gaily forth with the rest on a
favourite horse.

"She has everything," thought Bella, "'Reindeer' was promised to me when
he was a foal, and I have never been on his back."

But Lady Inez was lying there, with the mark of "Reindeer's" iron hoof on
her temple. They had come down together at a blind fence; the horse,
entangled in her habit, struck out _once_, as thorough-breds will, but it
was a death-blow.

The voice of the child, crying alone and neglected in the nursery,
aroused Bella from a horror stricken stupor. Her father's despair made
him unapproachable, but she might comfort Bertie, forgotten by his
attendants.

From this time she became almost a mother to him, for Mr. Du Meresq went
abroad, and they were left alone in the deserted house for some years.

Bertie had left Eton, and just obtained a commission in the ---- Hussars,
when his father died, leaving him a moderate fortune, which steadily
decreased as years went by. It had approached attenuation by this time,
and Mrs. Rolleston felt as distracted and perplexed as a duckling's hen