her, and reveal himself as a friend; but run as he would he could see nothing of her.  Thus he flew across the open country about Holworth, twisting his legs and ankles in unexpected fissures and descents, till, on coming to the gate between the downs and the road, he was forced to pause to get breath.  There was no audible movement either in front or behind him, and he now concluded that she had not outrun him, but that, hearing him at her heels, and believing him one of the excise party, she had hidden herself somewhere on the way, and let him pass by.

He went on at a more leisurely pace towards the village.  On reaching the house he found his surmise to be correct, for the gate was on the latch, and the door unfastened, just as he had left them.  Stockdale closed the door behind him, and waited silently in the passage.  In about ten minutes he heard the same light footstep that he had heard in going out; it paused at the gate, which opened and shut softly, and then the door-latch was lifted, and Lizzy came in.

Stockdale went forward and said at once, ’Lizzy, don’t be frightened.  I have been waiting up for you.’

She started, though she had recognized the voice.  ’It is Mr. Stockdale, isn’t it?’ she said.

‘Yes,’ he answered, becoming angry now that she was safe indoors, and not alarmed.  ’And a nice game I’ve found you out in to-night.  You are in man’s clothes, and I am ashamed of you!’

Lizzy could hardly find a voice to answer this unexpected reproach.

‘I am only partly in man’s clothes,’ she faltered, shrinking back to the wall.  ’It is only his greatcoat and hat and breeches that I’ve got on, which is no harm, as he was my own husband; and I do it only because a cloak blows about so, and you can’t use your arms.  I have got my own dress under just the same—­it is only tucked in!  Will you go away upstairs and let me pass?  I didn’t want you to see me at such a time as this!’

’But I have a right to see you!  How do you think there can be anything between us now?’ Lizzy was silent.  ‘You are a smuggler,’ he continued sadly.

‘I have only a share in the run,’ she said.

’That makes no difference.  Whatever did you engage in such a trade as that for, and keep it such a secret from me all this time?’

’I don’t do it always.  I only do it in winter-time when ‘tis new moon.’

’Well, I suppose that’s because it can’t be done anywhen else . . .  You have regularly upset me, Lizzy.’

‘I am sorry for that,’ Lizzy meekly replied.

‘Well now,’ said he more tenderly, ’no harm is done as yet.  Won’t you for the sake of me give up this blamable and dangerous practice altogether?’

‘I must do my best to save this run,’ said she, getting rather husky in the throat.  ’I don’t want to give you up—­you know that; but I don’t want to lose my venture.  I don’t know what to do now!  Why I have kept it so secret from you is that I was afraid you would be angry if you knew.’