, she exclaimed,--'Oh! Master! Oh, sir! forgive me.'

Her master did not speak, but lifted her in his strong arms, and carried
her to the gate; lifted her over, lifted her on his horse, and, amidst
the joyous caperings of Lion, mounted himself.

'Put you your arms round me, and hold fast,' he said to Gladys.

'Come you, Lion, good dog! we'll have a supper by now!' And so they all
went, as fast as they could, to the neighbouring village.

Mr Prothero, with no small noise and bluster, knocked up the inmates of
the little inn of that little place, and succeeded in getting Gladys
ensconced by a cheerful fire in the kitchen. The poor girl was benumbed
with cold and overpowered with fatigue. The landlady rubbed her feet and
hands, administered hot brandy and water, and finally got her to bed.

Mr Prothero kept out of her way lest he should say something that he
might afterwards repent of in the warmth of his delight at finding her
again. After she was in bed, and he had heard from the landlady that she
seemed better and more comfortable, he and Lion had a good supper--a
meal the dog appeared thoroughly to enjoy, and which he ate with a
ravenous appetite.

Mr Prothero told the landlady to leave Gladys in bed the next morning
until nine o'clock, by which hour he supposed she would be sufficiently
refreshed, and then retired himself, feeling thankful to Miss Gwynne for
having made him do a good action, but still believing that Owen must
have been in the secret of Gladys' sudden flight.

Gladys slept soundly until the landlady took her a good breakfast at
nine o'clock. She then awoke, refreshed but frightened, and uncertain as
to her present state or future proceedings. She was told that Mr
Prothero wished to see her as soon as she was dressed, and accordingly
when she had eaten her breakfast, she got up. She felt very stiff and
weak, and her hands trembled so much that she could scarcely dress
herself.

Lion found her out, however, and gained admittance into her bedroom. He
was in such very boisterous spirits that he quite cheered her, as pale
and frightened she tried to gain courage to meet her master. Before she
left the bedroom, she sought for guidance where she was always in the
habit of going for help and comfort, and found strength 'according to
her day.'

Mr Prothero was waiting for her in the little parlour of the inn. During
the morning, having nothing to do, he had employed himself by getting up
his temper, a