ied down to the lawn, staggering as she ran--stopped, and looked
back at the house--hastened onward toward the trees--stopped again,
looking backward and forward, uncertain which way to turn next--and then
advanced once more. He could now hear her heavily gasping for breath. As
she came nearer, the starlight showed a panic-stricken face--the face of
Mrs. Ellmother.

Alban ran to meet her. She dropped on the grass before he could cross
the short distance which separated them. As he raised her in his arms
she looked at him wildly, and murmured and muttered in the vain attempt
to speak. "Look at me again," he said. "Don't you remember the man who
had some talk with you to-day?" She still stared at him vacantly: he
tried again. "Don't you remember Miss Emily's friend?"

As the name passed his lips, her mind in some degree recovered its
balance. "Yes," she said; "Emily's friend; I'm glad I have met with
Emily's friend." She caught at Alban's arm--starting as if her own words
had alarmed her. "What am I talking about? Did I say 'Emily'? A servant
ought to say 'Miss Emily.' My head swims. Am I going mad?"

Alban led her to one of the garden chairs. "You're only a little
frightened," he said. "Rest, and compose yourself."

She looked over her shoulder toward the house. "Not here! I've run away
from a she-devil; I want to be out of sight. Further away, Mister--I
don't know your name. Tell me your name; I won't trust you, unless you
tell me your name!"

"Hush! hush! Call me Alban."

"I never heard of such a name; I won't trust you."

"You won't trust your friend, and Emily's friend? You don't mean that,
I'm sure. Call me by my other name--call me 'Morris.'"

"Morris?" she repeated. "Ah, I've heard of people called 'Morris.' Look
back! Your eyes are young--do you see her on the terrace?"

"There isn't a living soul to be seen anywhere."

With one hand he raised her as he spoke--and with the other he took up
the chair. In a minute more, they were out of sight of the house. He
seated her so that she could rest her head against the trunk of a tree.

"What a good fellow!" the poor old creature said, admiring him; "he
knows how my head pains me. Don't stand up! You're a tall man. She might
see you."

"She can see nothing. Look at the trees behind us. Even the starlight
doesn't get through them."

Mrs. Ellmother was not satisfied yet. "You take it coolly," she said.
"Do you know who saw us together in the passage to-day?