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point of view and with every possible turn of the arm； was quite an
absorbing business。 There was the letter too； and it looked so
mysterious and knowing； when she took it out of her pocket； and it
held； as she knew； so much inside； that to turn it over and over；
and think about it； and wonder how it began； and how it ended；
and what it said all through； was another matter of constant
occupation。 Between the bracelet and the letter； there was quite
enough to do without thinking of anything else； and admiring each
by turns； Dolly went on gaily。
As she passed through a wicket…gate to where the path was
narrow； and lay between two hedges garnished here and there
with trees； she heard a rustling close at hand； which brought her
to a sudden stop。 She listened。 All was very quiet； and she went on
again—not absolutely frightened； but a little quicker than before
perhaps； and possibly not quite so much at her ease； for a check of
that kind is startling。
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She had no sooner moved on again； than she was conscious of
the same sound； which was like that of a person tramping
stealthily among bushes and brushwood。 Looking towards the
spot whence it appeared to come； she almost fancied she could
make out a crouching figure。 She stopped again。 All was quiet as
before。 On she went once more—decidedly faster now—and tried
to sing softly to herself。 It must he the wind。
But how came the wind to blow only when she walked； and
cease when she stood still？ She stopped involuntarily as she made
the reflection； and the rustling noise stopped likewise。 She was
really frightened now； and was yet hesitating what to do； when the
bushes crackled and snapped； and a man came plunging through
them； close before her。
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Chapter 21
t was for the moment an inexpressible relief to Dolly； to
recognise in the person who forced himself into the path so
Iabruptly； and now stood directly in her way； Hugh of the
Maypole； whose name she uttered in a tone of delighted surprise
that came from her heart。
‘Was it you？’ she said； ‘how glad I am to see you！ and how could
you terrify me so！’
In answer to which； he said nothing at all； but stood quite still；
looking at her。
‘Did you come to meet me？’ asked Dolly。
Hugh nodded； and muttered something to the effect that he had
been waiting for her； and had expected her sooner。
‘I thought it likely they would send；’ said Dolly； greatly
reassured by this。
‘Nobody sent me；’ was his sullen answer。 ‘I came of my own
accord。’
The rough bearing of this fellow； and his wild； uncouth
appearance； had often filled the girl with a vague apprehension
even when other people were by； and had occasioned her to shrink
from him involuntarily。 The having him for an unbidden
companion in so solitary a place； with the darkness fast gathering
about them； renewed and even increased the alarm she had felt at
first。
If his manner had been merely dogged and passively fierce； as
usual； she would have had no greater dislike to his company than
she always felt—perhaps； indeed； would have been rather glad to
have had him at hand。 But there was something of coarse bold
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admiration in his look； which terrified her very much。 She glanced
timidly towards him； uncertain whether to go forward or retreat；
and he stood gazing at her like a handsome satyr； and so they
remained for some short time without stirring or breaking silence。
At length Dolly took courage； shot past him； and hurried on。
‘Why do you spend so much breath in avoiding me？’ said Hugh；
accommodating his pace to hers； and keeping close at her side。
‘I wish to get back as quickly as I can； and you walk too near
me； answered Dolly。’
‘Too near！’ said Hugh； stooping over her so that she could feel
his breath upon her forehead。 ‘Why too near？ You’re always proud
to me； mistress。’
‘I am proud to no one。 You mistake me；’ answered Dolly。 ‘Fall
back； if you please； or go on。’
‘Nay； mistress；’ he rejoined； endeavouring to draw her arm
through his； ‘I’ll walk with you。’
She released herself and clenching her little hand； struck him
with right good will。 At this； Maypole Hugh burst into a roar of
laughter； and passing his arm about her waist； held her in his
strong grasp as easily as if she had been a bird。
‘Ha ha ha！ Well done； mistress！ Strike again。 You shall beat my
face； and tear my hair； and pluck my beard up by the roots； and
welcome； for the sake of your bright eyes。 Strike again； mistress。
Do。 Ha ha ha！ I like it。’
‘Let me go；’ she cried； endeavouring with both her hands to
push him off。 ‘Let me go this moment。’
‘You had as good be kinder to me； Sweetlips；’ said Hugh。 ‘You
had； indeed。 Come。 Tell me now。 Why are you always so proud？ I
don’t quarrel with you for it。 I love you when you’re proud。 Ha ha
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ha！ You can’t hide your beauty from a poor fellow； that’s a
comfort！’
She gave him no answer； but as he had not yet checked her
progress； continued to press forward as rapidly as she could。 At
length； between the hurry she had made； her terror； and the
tightness of his embrace； her strength failed her； and she could go
no further。
‘Hugh；’ cried the panting girl； ‘good Hugh； if you will leave me I
will give you anything—everything I have—and never tell one
word of this to any living creature。’
‘You had best not；’ he answered。 ‘Harkye； little dove； you had
best not。 All about here know me； and what I dare do if I have a
mind。 If ever you are going to tell； stop when the words are on
your lips； and think of the mischief you’ll bring； if you do； upon
some innocent heads that you wouldn’t wish to hurt a hair of。
Bring trouble on me； and I’ll bring trouble and something more on
them in return。 I care no more for them than for so many dogs； not
so much—why should I？ I’d sooner kill a man than a dog any day。
I’ve never been sorry for a man’s death in all my life； and I have
for a dog’s。’
There was something so thoroughly savage in the manner of
these expressions； and the looks and gestures by which they were
accompanied； that her great fear of him gave her new strength；
and enabled her by a sudden effort to extricate herself and run
fleetly from him。 But Hugh was as nimble； strong； and swift of
foot； as any man in broad England； and it was but a fruitless
expenditure of energy； for he had her in his encircling arms again
before she had gone a hundred yards。
‘Softly； darling—gently—would you fly from rough Hugh； that
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loves you as well as any drawing…room gallant？’
‘I would；’ she answered； struggling to free herself again。 ‘I will。
Help！’
‘A fine for crying out；’ said Hugh。 ‘Ha ha ha！ A fine； pretty one；
from your lips。 I pay myself！ Ha ha ha！’
‘Help！ help！ help！’ As she shrieked with th