nue your
intimacy with undesirable people. I have given orders that you should
not be provided with either paper or ink."

Poor Kate's last hope seemed to be fading away. Her heart sank within
her, but she kept a brave face, for she did not wish him to see how his
words had stricken her. She had a desperate plan in her head, which
would be more likely to be successful could she but put him off his
guard.

She spent the morning in her own little room. She had been provided
with a ponderous brown Bible, out of which the fly leaves had been
carefully cut, and this she read, though her thoughts often wandered
away from the sacred pages. About one o'clock she heard the clatter of
hoofs and the sound of wheels on the drive. Going down, she found that
it was a cart which had come from Bedsworth with furniture. There were
carpets, a chest of drawers, tables, and several other articles, which
the driver proceeded to carry upstairs, helped by John Girdlestone. The
old woman was in the upper room. It seemed to Kate that she might never
again have such an opportunity of carrying out the resolve which she had
formed. She put on her bonnet, and began to stroll listlessly about in
front of the door, picking a few straggling leaves from the neglected
lawn. Gradually she sauntered away in this manner to the head of the
avenue, and then, taking one swift timid glance around, she slipped in
among the trees, and made the best of her way, half walking, half
running, down the dark winding drive.

Oh, the joy of the moment when the great white house which had already
become so hateful to her was obscured among the trees behind her!
She had some idea of the road which she had traversed the night before.
Behind her were all her troubles. In front the avenue gate, Bedsworth,
and freedom. She would send both a telegram and a letter to Dr.
Dimsdale, and explain to him her exact situation. If the kind-hearted
and energetic physician once knew of it, he would take care that no harm
befell her. She could return then, and face with a light heart the
worst which her guardian could do to her. Here was the avenue entrance
now, the high lichen-eaten stone pillars, with the battered device upon
the top. The iron gate between was open. With a glad cry she quickened
her pace, and in another moment would have been in the high-road, when--

"Now then, where are you a-comin' to?" cried a gruff voice from among
the bushes which flanked the