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to free itself from his grip： ‘you； so bright…eyed； and cherry…lipped；
and daintily made？ But I love you better for it； mistress。 Ay； I do。
You should stab me and welcome； so that it pleased you； and you
had to cure me afterwards。 I love to see you proud and scornful。 It
makes you handsomer than ever； and who so handsome as you at
any time； my pretty one！’
‘Come！’ said Mr Tappertit； who had waited during this speech
with considerable impatience。 ‘There’s enough of that。 Come
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down。’
The little hand seconded this admonition by thrusting Hugh’s
great head away with all its force； and drawing up the blind；
amidst his noisy laughter； and vows that he must have another
look； for the last glimpse of that sweet face had provoked him past
all bearing。 However； as the suppressed impatience of the party
now broke out into open murmurs； he abandoned this design； and
taking his seat upon the bar； contented himself with tapping at the
front windows of the carriage； and trying to steal a glance inside；
Mr Tappertit； mounting the steps and hanging on by the door；
issued his directions to the driver with a commanding voice and
attitude； the rest got up behind； or ran by the side of the carriage；
as they could； some； in imitation of Hugh； endeavoured to see the
face he had praised so highly； and were reminded of their
impertinence by hints from the cudgel of Mr Tappertit。 Thus they
pursued their journey by circuitous and winding roads；
preserving； except when they halted to take breath； or to quarrel
about the best way of reaching London； pretty good order and
tolerable silence。
In the mean time； Dolly—beautiful； bewitching； captivating
little Dolly—her hair dishevelled； her dress torn； her dark
eyelashes wet with tears； her bosom heaving—her face； now pale
with fear； now crimsoned with indignation—her whole self a
hundred times more beautiful in this heightened aspect than ever
she had been before—vainly strove to comfort Emma Haredale；
and to impart to her the consolation of which she stood in so much
need herself。 The soldiers were sure to come； they must be
rescued； it would be impossible to convey them through the
streets of London when they set the threats of their guards at
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defiance； and shrieked to the passengers for help。 If they did this
when they came into the more frequented ways； she was certain—
she was quite certain—they must be released。 So poor Dolly said；
and so poor Dolly tried to think； but the invariable conclusion of
all such arguments was； that Dolly burst into tears； cried； as she
wrung her hands； what would they do or think； or who would
comfort them； at home； at the Golden Key； and sobbed most
piteously。
Miss Haredale； whose feelings were usually of a quieter kind
than Dolly’s； and not so much upon the surface； was dreadfully
alarmed； and indeed had only just recovered from a swoon。 She
was very pale； and the hand which Dolly held was quite cold； but
she bade her； nevertheless； remember that； under Providence；
much must depend upon their own discretion； that if they
remained quiet and lulled the vigilance of the ruffians into whose
hands they had fallen； the chances of their being able to procure
assistance when they reached the town； were very much
increased； that unless society were quite unhinged； a hot pursuit
must be immediately commenced； and that her uncle； she might
be sure； would never rest until he had found them out and rescued
them。 But as she said these latter words； the idea that he had
fallen in a general massacre of the Catholics that night—no very
wild or improbable supposition after what they had seen and
undergone—struck her dumb； and； lost in the horrors they had
witnessed； and those they might be yet reserved for； she sat
incapable of thought； or speech； or outward show of grief： as rigid；
and almost as white and cold； as marble。
Oh； how many； many times； in that long ride； did Dolly think of
her old lover；—poor； fond； slighted Joe！ How many； many times；
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did she recall that night when she ran into his arms from the very
man now projecting his hateful gaze into the darkness where she
sat； and leering through the glass in monstrous admiration！ And
when she thought of Joe； and what a brave fellow he was； and how
he would have rode boldly up； and dashed in among these villains
now； yes； though they were double the number—and here she
clenched her little hand； and pressed her foot upon the ground—
the pride she felt for a moment in having won his heart； faded in a
burst of tears； and she sobbed more bitterly than ever。
As the night wore on； and they proceeded by ways which were
quite unknown to them—for they could recognise none of the
objects of which they sometimes caught a hurried glimpse—their
fears increased； nor were they without good foundation； it was not
difficult for two beautiful young women to find； in their being
borne they knew not whither by a band of daring villains who eyed
them as some among these fellows did； reasons for the worst
alarm。 When they at last entered London； by a suburb with which
they were wholly unacquainted； it was past midnight； and the
streets were dark and empty。 Nor was this the worst； for the
carriage stopping in a lonely spot； Hugh suddenly opened the
door； jumped in； and took his seat between them。
It was in vain they cried for help。 He put his arm about the neck
of e