depend upon it.

Having locked my door, I wrote as follows:--

'Oh, my beloved cousin, as you hope for comfort in _your_ hour of fear, aid
me now. Dudley has returned, and is secreted somewhere about the grounds.
It is a _fraud_. They all pretend to me that he is gone away in the
_Seamew_; and he or they had his name published as one of the passengers.
Madame de la Rougierre has appeared! She is here, and my uncle insists on
making her my close companion. I am at my wits' ends. I cannot escape--the
walls are a prison; and I believe the eyes of my gaolers are always upon
me. Dogs are kept for pursuit--yes, _dogs_! and the gates are locked
against my escape. God help me! I don't know where to look, or whom to
trust. I fear my uncle more than all. I think I could bear this better if I
knew what their plans are, even the worst. If ever you loved or pitied me,
dear cousin, I conjure you, help me in this extremity. Take me away from
this. Oh, darling, for God's sake take me away!

'Your distracted and terrified cousin,

MAUD'

'Bartram-Haugh.'

I sealed this letter jealously, as if the inanimate missive would burst its
cerements, and proclaim my desperate appeal through all the chambers and
passages of silent Bartram.

Old Quince, greatly to cousin Monica's amusement, persisted in furnishing
me with those capacious pockets which belonged to a former generation. I
was glad of this old-world eccentricity now, and placed my guilty letter,
that, amidst all my hypocrisies, spoke out with terrible frankness, deep
in this receptacle, and having hid away the pen and ink, my accomplices, I
opened the door, and resumed my careless looks, awaiting Madame's return.

'I was to demand to Mr. Ruthyn the permission to go to Feltram, and I think
he will allow. He want to speak to you.'

With Madame I entered my uncle's room. He was reclining on a sofa, his back
towards us, and his long white hair, as fine as spun glass, hung over the
back of the couch.

'I was going to ask you, dear Maud, to execute two or three little
commissions for me in Feltram.'

My dreadful letter felt lighter in my pocket, and my heart beat violently.

'But I have just recollected that this is a market-day, and Feltram will
be full of doubtful characters and tipsy persons, so we must wait till
to-morrow; and Madame says, very kindly, that she will, as she does not
so much mind, make any little purchases to-day which cannot conveniently
wait.'

Madame as