alliburt see me just for one minute?" he asked,
offering Susan half-a-guinea. "They don't pay you very high wages here,
I guess."

"Take yourself off, Master Gaffin, and your money too," exclaimed Susan,
indignantly, putting her hands behind her back. "Do you fancy we don't
know you with all your pretended French airs and gibberish. Let me
advise you not to show your face inside those gates again."

Miles sneaked off without attempting to reply. Recovering his audacity
on his return to his lodgings he for several days made attempts to see
May, who, fearing to meet him out-of-doors, was kept a prisoner within
the grounds.

Miles, foiled in his plan, determined to consult his father, but, not
wishing to be seen near the mill in daylight, he took a stroll on the
Downs, intending to make his way there at dusk.

He had gone some distance, when suddenly the tall figure of Mad Sal,
rising as it seemed out of the earth, stood before him. He started back
and would have hurried away, recollecting her appearance when he had
assisted in the outrage on Jacob Halliburt.

Though others might not have recognised him, she, it was evident, did
so, from the way she addressed him.

"What have you done with the hapless lad I saw you bear away over the
salt sea, salt sea?" she exclaimed. "I have waited long, but in vain,
for his return. Have you sent him wandering far from home and country,
or is he fathoms deep beneath the salt sea, salt sea?"

"I don't know of whom you speak, old dame," answered Miles, mustering up
his courage. "I am a stranger here, and know none of the people. You
mistake me for some one else."

"I take you for the son of the miller of Hurlston," she exclaimed,
laughing loudly. "Go and tell him that I have watched his doings. I
know his goings out and his comings in, and ere long the ministers of
justice will track him down, and consign him to the fate he so richly
merits."

"What have I to do with the miller of Hurlston? He would be a bold man
who would speak to him in that way," answered Miles, trembling with
fear.

"It's false, it's false," shouted the old woman. "You are even now on
your way to him. I saw you leave his door not many nights ago, when you
thought no one was near. Go, tell him to beware of the fate which will
ere long overtake him. Go, I say, go," and she waved her staff wildly
round, compelling Miles to retreat before her. He, at last, having
nothing with which to defend h