"Is it about Miss Helen?
She's coming home ?" "Yes.

We must start for Edinburg at once, and we'll bring her back with us." He forgot for the moment the sick husband, the newborn baby-- every thing but Helen herself and her being close at hand.

"It's only forty-eight hours journey to Edinburg now.

We will travel post; I am strong enough, Malcolm; set about it quickly, for it must be done." Malcolm knew his master too well to remonstrate.

In truth, the whole household was so bewildered by this sudden exploit--for the wheels of life moved slowly enough ordinarily at Cairnforth--that before any body was quite aware what had happened, the earl and his two necessary attendants, Malcolm and Mr.Mearns--also Mrs.Campbell--Helen might want a woman with her--were traveling across country as fast as the only fast traveling of that era--relays of post-horses day and night--could carry them.
Lord Cairnforth, after much thought, left Helen's letter behind with Duncan Cardross, charging him to break the tidings gradually to the minister, and tell him that he himself was then traveling to Edinburg with all the speed that, in those days, money, and money alone, could procure.