Her first thought was to call to them for help, but on more mature deliberation she was fearful they might belong to Duffel’s band, and if so, would betray her into the hands of that unprincipled and enraged villain, when she knew but too well that death or a fate infinitely worse, was the the alternative left for choice; she therefore kept silent, preferring to take the chances of her lone pilgrimage to casting herself into unknown and suspected hands.

It soon appeared, however, that the discovery was mutual, and that the horsemen had less fear of her than she of them; for, after a moment’s pause to satisfy themselves of the reality of her presence, they turned their horses’ heads toward her, and in a few seconds arrived at the spot where she stood, silently awaiting their approach.  She had feared they were members of the association of thieves, and as such, was expecting to see hard features with a brigand’s expression upon them; but, much to her surprise and pleasure, the men before her bore none of the marks she had pictured to herself, but were genteelly dressed and quite fine-looking fellows.  One of them addressed her in the most polite manner and with a grace that showed plainly he had been in good society: 

“Will you pardon me, fair lady, a stranger, for being so bold as to presume to address you? but it is so strange to see one so delicate as yourself in the midst of a wild wilderness at such an early hour.  May I inquire if misfortune has overtaken you? or why it is that you are here? and if we can be of any service to you?”

There was something in the voice that sounded familiar to Eveline, and she looked at the speaker to see if she could recognize him as a casual acquaintance, but she could not; his features and face were entirely strange to her; and though every word he uttered seemed to be in a tone she had heard before, it was impossible for her to tell where or when, and she concluded it must be a singular coincidence and nothing more.  When he concluded, she replied: 

“I have been so unfortunate, sir, as to lose my way in the forest, and have wandered I know not whither, in my nightlong efforts to extricate myself from the unpleasant situation in which I am placed.  If you can aid me to get to C——­, or to any other neighborhood, I will take it as a great favor, and will reward you for your trouble.”

“We will escort you with the greatest pleasure to any point you may wish to go.  You must have wandered a long way if you started from C——­, for it is more than fifty miles to that place.”

“Indeed!  I had no expectation it was so far.  I cannot think of asking you to take me such a distance.”

“We will do so with the utmost pleasure without being asked; it is exactly in our way, and very fortunately we have a horse at hand, already caparisoned for a lady’s use, which is at your service.”  Then turning to the other he said:—­“Bring up the led horse for the lady,” and his companion started as directed.  The speaker then continued, again directing his discourse to Eveline: