uld overtake her even
now. By a sudden forethought she stooped, seized the end of the plank,
and endeavoured to drag it away from the opposite bank. But the weight
was too great for her to do more than slightly move it, and with a
desperate sigh she ran on again, having lost many valuable seconds.

But her attempt, though ineffectual in dragging it down, had been enough
to unsettle the little bridge; and when Derriman reached the middle,
which he did half a minute later, the plank turned over on its edge,
tilting him bodily into the river. The water was not remarkably deep,
but as the yeoman fell flat on his stomach he was completely immersed;
and it was some time before he could drag himself out. When he arose,
dripping on the bank, and looked around, Anne had vanished from the mead.
Then Festus's eyes glowed like carbuncles, and he gave voice to fearful
imprecations, shaking his fist in the soft summer air towards Anne, in a
way that was terrible for any maiden to behold. Wading back through the
stream, he walked along its bank with a heavy tread, the water running
from his coat-tails, wrists, and the tips of his ears, in silvery
dribbles, that sparkled pleasantly in the sun. Thus he hastened away,
and went round by a by-path to the hall.

Meanwhile the author of his troubles was rapidly drawing nearer to the
mill, and soon, to her inexpressible delight, she saw Bob coming to meet
her. She had heard the flounce, and, feeling more secure from her
pursuer, had dropped her pace to a quick walk. No sooner did she reach
Bob than, overcome by the excitement of the moment, she flung herself
into his arms. Bob instantly enclosed her in an embrace so very thorough
that there was no possible danger of her falling, whatever degree of
exhaustion might have given rise to her somewhat unexpected action; and
in this attitude they silently remained, till it was borne in upon Anne
that the present was the first time in her life that she had ever been in
such a position. Her face then burnt like a sunset, and she did not know
how to look up at him. Feeling at length quite safe, she suddenly
resolved not to give way to her first impulse to tell him the whole of
what had happened, lest there should be a dreadful quarrel and fight
between Bob and the yeoman, and great difficulties caused in the Loveday
family on her account, the miller having important wheat transactions
with the Derrimans.

'You seem frightened, dearest Anne