alarm of fire, conjuring all the inhabitants to make their way out
immediately, as they would save their lives.

The family consisted of few persons, all of whom ran instantly to the
doors and opened them; on which two men rushed in, and with the plea of
saving Lady Matilda from the pretended flames, caught her in their arms,
and carried her off; while all the deceived people of the house, running
eagerly to save themselves, paid no regard to her, till looking for the
cause for which they had been terrified, they perceived the stratagem,
and the fatal consequences.

Amidst the complaints, the sorrow, and the affright of the people of the
farm, Miss Woodley's sensations wanted a name--terror and anguish give
but a faint description of what she suffered--something like the approach
of death stole over her senses, and she sat like one petrified with
horror. She had no doubt who was the perpetrator of this wickedness; but
how was she to follow? how effect a rescue?

The circumstances of this event, as soon as the people had time to call
up their recollection, were sent to a neighbouring magistrate; but
little could be hoped from that. Who was to swear to the robber? Who,
undertake to find him out! Miss Woodley thought of Rushbrook, of
Sandford, of Lord Elmwood--but what could she hope from the want of power
in the two former?--what from the latter, for the want of will? Now
stupified, and now distracted, she walked about the house incessantly,
begging for instructions how to act, or how to forget her misery.

A tenant of Lord Elmwood's, who occupied a little farm near to that
where Lady Matilda lived, and who was well acquainted with the whole
history of her's and her mother's misfortunes, was returning from a
neighbouring fair, just as this inhuman plan was put in execution. He
heard the cries of a woman in distress, and followed the sound, till he
arrived at a chaise in waiting, and saw Matilda placed in it, by the
side of two men, who presented pistols to him, as he offered to approach
and expostulate.

The farmer, uncertain who this female was, yet went to the house she
had been taken from (as the nearest) with the tale of what he had seen;
and there, being informed it was Lady Matilda whom he had beheld, this
intelligence, joined to the powerful effect her screams had on him, made
him resolve to take horse immediately, and with some friends, follow the
carriage till they should trace the place to which she was con