rther.

The vile creature was absolutely incapable of replying, for her breath
was nearly exhausted by the rapidity of the motion, and Eliza
continued entreating her to stop, and struggled violently to elude her
grasp.

At length, after a quarter of an hour's exertion, the woman found
herself incapable of proceeding, and stopped suddenly, sat down on a
bank, keeping tight hold of Eliza's arms, who cried dreadfully, and
besought her to let her go.

"Let you go!" she replied; "what, after all the plague I've had to
knap you? No, no, you don't catch me at that, I promise you; but be a
good girl, and don't cry, and then you may see Bob by and by,
perhaps."

"Oh, my sisters! my sisters! Let me go to my sisters!" cried the
child.

"I'll find plenty of sisters for you in a few days," said the vile
creature; "but they won't know you in them there fine clothes; so
let's pull them off in a minute, and then we'll have another run after
Bob."

So saying, she stripped off the white frock, hat, and tippet. The rest
of the things shared the same fate, and Eliza was compelled to put on
some old rags which the inhuman creature took out of a bag she carried
under her petticoat; then, taking a bottle of liquid from the same
place, she instantly began washing Eliza's face with it, and,
notwithstanding all her remonstrances, cut her beautiful hair close to
her head.

Thus metamorphosed, it would have been impossible even for Mr. Darnley
to have known his child, and they proceeded onward until her little
legs would carry her no farther. At this period they were overtaken by
the Canterbury wagon, and for a mere trifle the driver consented to
let them ride to London. Eliza's tears continued to flow, but she
dared not utter a complaint, as her inhuman companion protested she
would break every bone in her skin if she ventured to make the least
noise.

When they arrived in town, she was dragged (for to walk she was
unable) to a miserable hole down several steps, where they gave her
some bread and butter to eat, and then desired her to go to bed.

The bed, if such it might be called, was little else than a bundle of
rags thrown into a corner of the room, with a dirty blanket spread
across it; and there she was left by her inhuman kidnapper to mourn
her misfortunes and lament having disregarded her fathers'
injunctions.

The next morning she was forced to rise the moment it was light, and
to walk as far as her little legs would carr