nd to her senses about him. He still
resented the ducking that he had received at her hands, and was not
disposed to let that insult pass without obtaining some sort of sweet
revenge.

As soon as they had parted Festus cantered on over the hill, meeting on
his way the Longpuddle volunteers, sixty rank and file, under Captain
Cunningham; the Casterbridge company, ninety strong (known as the
'Consideration Company' in those days), under Captain Strickland; and
others--all with anxious faces and covered with dust. Just passing the
word to them and leaving them at halt, he proceeded rapidly onward in the
direction of King's-Bere. Nobody appeared on the road for some time,
till after a ride of several miles he met a stray corporal of volunteers,
who told Festus in answer to his inquiry that he had certainly passed no
gig full of women of the kind described. Believing that he had missed
them by following the highway, Derriman turned back into a lane along
which they might have chosen to journey for privacy's sake,
notwithstanding the badness and uncertainty of its track. Arriving again
within five miles of Overcombe, he at length heard tidings of the
wandering vehicle and its precious burden, which, like the Ark when sent
away from the country of the Philistines, had apparently been left to the
instincts of the beast that drew it. A labouring man, just at daybreak,
had seen the helpless party going slowly up a distant drive, which he
pointed out.

No sooner had Festus parted from this informant than he beheld Bob
approaching, mounted on the miller's second and heavier horse. Bob
looked rather surprised, and Festus felt his coming glory in danger.

'They went down that lane,' he said, signifying precisely the opposite
direction to the true one. 'I, too, have been on the look-out for
missing friends.'

As Festus was riding back there was no reason to doubt his information,
and Loveday rode on as misdirected. Immediately that he was out of sight
Festus reversed his course, and followed the track which Anne and her
companions were last seen to pursue.

This road had been ascended by the gig in question nearly two hours
before the present moment. Molly, the servant, held the reins, Mrs.
Loveday sat beside her, and Anne behind. Their progress was but slow,
owing partly to Molly's want of skill, and partly to the steepness of the
road, which here passed over downs of some extent, and was rarely or
never mended. It