have
forty, whether you will or no!'

He flung himself against the door; but as it was bolted, and had in
addition a great wooden bar across it, this produced no effect. He was
silent for a moment, and then the terrified girl heard him attempt the
shuttered window. She ran upstairs and again scanned the down. The
yellow gig still lay in the blazing sunshine, and the horse of Festus
stood by the corner of the garden--nothing else was to be seen. At this
moment there came to her ear the noise of a sword drawn from its
scabbard; and, peeping over the window-sill, she saw her tormentor drive
his sword between the joints of the shutters, in an attempt to rip them
open. The sword snapped off in his hand. With an imprecation he pulled
out the piece, and returned the two halves to the scabbard.

'Ha! ha!' he cried, catching sight of the top of her head. ''Tis only a
joke, you know; but I'll get in all the same. All for a kiss! But never
mind, we'll do it yet!' He spoke in an affectedly light tone, as if
ashamed of his previous resentful temper; but she could see by the livid
back of his neck that he was brimful of suppressed passion. 'Only a
jest, you know,' he went on. 'How are we going to do it now? Why, in
this way. I go and get a ladder, and enter at the upper window where my
love is. And there's the ladder lying under that corn-rick in the first
enclosed field. Back in two minutes, dear!'

He ran off, and was lost to her view.

XXVIII. ANNE DOES WONDERS

Anne fearfully surveyed her position. The upper windows of the cottage
were of flimsiest lead-work, and to keep him out would be hopeless. She
felt that not a moment was to be lost in getting away. Running
downstairs she opened the door, and then it occurred to her terrified
understanding that there would be no chance of escaping him by flight
afoot across such an extensive down, since he might mount his horse and
easily ride after her. The animal still remained tethered at the corner
of the garden; if she could release him and frighten him away before
Festus returned, there would not be quite such odds against her. She
accordingly unhooked the horse by reaching over the bank, and then,
pulling off her muslin neckerchief, flapped it in his eyes to startle
him. But the gallant steed did not move or flinch; she tried again, and
he seemed rather pleased than otherwise. At this moment she heard a cry
from the cottage, and turning, beheld he