ument, or any other token, missing from his lordship. And few
things of that sort would last for twenty years almost."

"Nineteen years the day after to-morrow," I answered, with a glance at
my pocket-book. "I determined to be here on that very day. No doubt I
am very superstitious. But one thing I can not understand is this--what
reason can there have been for his letting so many years pass, and then
hunting like this?"

"No one can answer that question, miss, without knowing more than we
know. But many reasons might be supposed. He might have been roving
abroad, for instance, just as you and your father have been. Or he might
not have known that the thing was there; or it might not have been of
importance till lately; or he might have been afraid, until something
else happened. Does he know that you are now in England?"

"How can I possibly tell, Mrs. Busk? He seems to know a great deal
too much. He found me out when I was at Colonel Gundry's. At least I
conclude so, from what I know now; but I hope he does not know"--and at
such a dreadful idea I shuddered.

"I am almost sure that he can not know it," the good postmistress
answered, "or he would have found means to put an end to you. That would
have been his first object."

"But, Mrs. Busk," I said, being much disturbed by her calmness, "surely,
surely he is not to be allowed to make an end of every one! I came to
this country with the full intention of going into every thing. But
I did not mean at all, except in my very best moments, to sacrifice
myself. It seems too bad--too bad to think of."

"So it is, Miss Erema," Mrs. Busk replied, without any congenial
excitement. "It does seem hard for them that have the liability on them.
But still, miss, you have always shown such a high sense of duty, and of
what you were about--"

"I can't--I can not. There are times, I do assure you, when I am fit for
nothing, Mrs. Busk, and wish myself back in America. And if this man is
to have it all his own way--"

"Not he, miss--not he. Be you in no hurry. Could he even have his way
with our old miller? No; Master Withypool was too many for him."

"That is a new thing. You never told me that. What did he try to do with
the miller?"

"I don't justly know what it was, Miss Erema. I never spoke to miller
about it, and, indeed, I have had no time since I heard of it. But those
that told me said that the tall strange gentleman was terribly put out,
and left the gate with a bl