o the field which Anne was still crossing. In a moment or two she
looked back, and seeing the well-known Herculean figure of the yeoman
behind her felt rather alarmed, though she determined to show no
difference in her outward carriage. But to maintain her natural gait was
beyond her powers. She spasmodically quickened her pace; fruitlessly,
however, for he gained upon her, and when within a few strides of her
exclaimed, 'Well, my darling!' Anne started off at a run.

Festus was already out of breath, and soon found that he was not likely
to overtake her. On she went, without turning her head, till an unusual
noise behind compelled her to look round. His face was in the act of
falling back; he swerved on one side, and dropped like a log upon a
convenient hedgerow-bank which bordered the path. There he lay quite
still.

Anne was somewhat alarmed; and after standing at gaze for two or three
minutes, drew nearer to him, a step and a half at a time, wondering and
doubting, as a meek ewe draws near to some strolling vagabond who flings
himself on the grass near the flock.

'He is in a swoon!' she murmured.

Her heart beat quickly, and she looked around. Nobody was in sight; she
advanced a step nearer still and observed him again. Apparently his face
was turning to a livid hue, and his breathing had become obstructed.

''Tis not a swoon; 'tis apoplexy!' she said, in deep distress. 'I ought
to untie his neck.' But she was afraid to do this, and only drew a
little closer still.

Miss Garland was now within three feet of him, whereupon the senseless
man, who could hold his breath no longer, sprang to his feet and darted
at her, saying, 'Ha! ha! a scheme for a kiss!'

She felt his arm slipping round her neck; but, twirling about with
amazing dexterity, she wriggled from his embrace and ran away along the
field. The force with which she had extricated herself was sufficient to
throw Festus upon the grass, and by the time that he got upon his legs
again she was many yards off. Uttering a word which was not exactly a
blessing, he immediately gave chase; and thus they ran till Anne entered
a meadow divided down the middle by a brook about six feet wide. A
narrow plank was thrown loosely across at the point where the path
traversed this stream, and when Anne reached it she at once scampered
over. At the other side she turned her head to gather the probabilities
of the situation, which were that Festus Derriman wo