The horses fell crossing a bridge, and the coach was overturned into the river; and they do say everybody was killed or drowned.

And poor young Mr.Hollingford was in the coach; and, oh! that I should have to say it, he's met a cruel death.

I sent for you, dear young lady, that you might break the news gently to his mother; for there's not a soul in the country side dare carry the story to her door, and they'll maybe be bringing home the bodies." "Stop!" said I."Mrs.Beatty--are you sure--" And the next thing I knew was a sensation of coldness and wetness upon my face, and a smell of vinegar and wine, and a sound of murmuring and crying.
[Illustration: MARGERY HEARS OF THE ACCIDENT.] "Dear heart, dear heart! to think of her taking on so!" I heard the good woman saying, and I crept to my feet, and began tying on my bonnet in spite of her entreaties that I would lie still.
"No, no, I must get home!" I said, shuddering.

"Some one else will come and tell her, and it will kill her.

Let me go at once! Let me go!" At the door in the frosty dusk Pat was waiting with a horse and gig.
"I was thinkin' ye'd be a bit staggered by the news, miss," he said, "an' I put the mare to this ould shandheradan.