the spot where the
red flash had caught her eye. But she was caught and stopped before she
reached it, and held still--that same shield between her and the hedge.

"Did it touch you?" Mr. Linden repeated.

"No--Let me! let me!"--she said eagerly endeavouring to free herself.

He was silent a moment--a deep drawn breath the only reply; but he did
not loose his hold.

"My dear child," he said, "you could find nothing--for what would you
go?"--the tone was very gentle, even moved. "You must walk on before me
as quick as you can. Will you promise to do it? I will keep you in
sight."

"Before you?--no. What are you going to do? Are you touched?"--Her
voice changed as she went on.

"I am not hurt--and mean to do nothing to-night but follow you home.
But give me your promise, Miss Faith,--you must not stand here."

"Why in front? will they be behind us?"

"I must have you in sight--and I will not have you near me." And
letting go his hold he said, almost imperatively,

"I will trust you. Walk on before me!--Miss Faith, you must not delay a
moment."

"I will go with you," she said low, and clinging to his arm.--"Your
safety is in being near me. I will not delay. Come!"--

But the hand was taken off again, and held in both his while he spoke.

"I will not have you anywhere near me! If you do not walk on far in
front, I shall,--and keep watch of you as best I can." And he let go
her hand, and stepped back with a quick pace that soon put some
distance between them. She stood still a moment, looking, and then
sprang back till she reached him; speaking with a low vehemence that
did not seem like Faith.

"I will not do it, Mr. Linden--I will not! I will not!--Come, come!
don't stay here!"--

Whatever Mr. Linden felt at that appeal--and he was not a man to feel
it lightly--his words lost none of their firmness.

"I shall not stir until you are ten yards in front of me!--unless I
leave you as far behind."

She planted herself for an instant before him and looked in his face,
with eyes of quiet but most eloquent beseeching.

"No"--he repeated,--"you must go on and fear nothing. Child--'there is
no restraint to the Lord, to save by many or by few.'"

She did not answer, even by the little shake of the head which
sometimes with her stood in place of words. She turned, went swiftly
forward, with a straight, even, unslackening pace, which did not falter
nor stop for a long, long piece of the way; _how_ long it was by