ome of the muslins and laces to the ladies upstairs. She then went
away, using the precaution of locking the dining-parlour door, and
taking the key with her. She soon returned with the lady's maid, the
pack and our boxes were opened, the women picked out what they chose,
and after inquiring the prices took them upstairs.

'That is a clever girl,' said Mr. Sharpley; 'she has locked the door,
but I rather think she has left the window open. I'll just take a peep.'

He went out upon the lawn, and returned in less than five minutes,
smiling and muttering to his wife:

'The sooner those girls come down the better. We must not quit the park
till they do come, for we might be seen from the upper windows, and they
would send after and stop us.'

I trembled so when I heard this speech that I could hardly stand, and I
determined to leave them the very first opportunity that I could find.
In about ten minutes they came down, and brought the money for what
things the ladies had chosen. They then made several purchases for
themselves, which Mr. Sharpley let them have at their own price. Our
goods were then expeditiously packed up, and we left the park. We had no
sooner reached the road than he told us we must cross over and go into
the field on the opposite side, where we must keep along under the
screen of the hedge till we came to some place where we could cross over
to a further distance. We followed his directions, and, when on the
other side, we were obliged, each of us, to tie a coloured handkerchief
over our bonnets, which a little altered their appearance. Mr. Sharpley
put on a waggoner's frock which he always carried in his pack, and thus
disguised we proceeded forward.

'We must go to a barn that I know of near N----,' said Mr. Sharpley. 'It
is about seven miles off; so, Lady Anne, you must walk stoutly; there we
shall sleep. We must be up again by four in the morning, and go on to
A----; that is only five miles further, and will be a nice little walk
before breakfast. There I know a man who will take my silver goods off
my hands, and then we shall be all safe again.'

I followed in silence, for talking to him I knew was of no use, and I
was so disgusted at the life I was compelled to lead that I determined
to escape as soon as I possibly could. About nine in the evening we
reached the field where the barn was situated, where we were to sleep,
but it being summer-time, and many people about, we sat ourselves down
in