left the cottage. Filled with this thought, I
rushed rapidly on to the little thatched house, and knocked at the door.

A little girl came, with a tallow candle in her hand.

"Does Mrs. Bray live here?" I said, pantingly.

"Iss, sur, she do," replied the child.

"Is she alone?"

"Iss, sur," wonderingly.

"Has any one been to see her this afternoon?"

"Iss, sur. Miss Murten 'ev bin."

"Miss Morton," I said, with a glad feeling at heart. "How long has she
been gone?"

"Not more'n 'bout vive or ten minutes, sur."

"Has she gone down the lane?" I said, pointing to the one I took to be
that of which the old servant at the Hall had told me.

"Iss, sur," said she, timidly.

Without another word I rushed down the narrow lane which led to a
distant farm, then coming to a stile I jumped over it into a field.

Daylight was now quite gone, and I knew that I must be careful. True,
I did not know that Wilfred and Blackburn had come to the village at
all, but I must be ready for any emergency.

I could dimly see the footpath by the hedgerow, so I ran noiselessly
along it, until I reached the end of the field, then I stood upon the
stile and listened. All was silent as death.

"Surely," I said. "My fears are in vain. Ruth has gone quietly back
to her home. If I am quick I shall overtake her."

With this hope in my heart, yet feeling terribly anxious, I rushed
along the hedgeside, and had nearly traversed the length of the field
when I heard what I thought was a smothered scream.

The sound was near me, too, it seemed to come from the other side of
the fence which was just before me.

With beating heart I went stealthily forward and looked over the hedge
into the other field.

In the dim light I saw four figures.

But there was no struggling. They seemed to have only just met, and as
I looked I heard a voice that set my every nerve quivering.

"Wilfred," said the voice, which I knew was Ruth's, "how came you here?"

"I came to see you, Ruth," said Wilfred in low, subdued tones.

"But why did you not go to the house? I have been home all day, and my
doors are never closed to any one bearing your name."

"I have met you here because I want to see you alone, and because I
have some strange things to tell you."

"Well, speak on," she said, haughtily; "here, Clara, come and stand by
my side."

"No," said Wilfred, hoarsely, "I want no servants near; I must speak to
you alone, here, now. Jake, take t