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she always felt—perhaps； indeed； would have been rather glad to
have had him at hand。 But there was something of coarse bold
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admiration in his look； which terrified her very much。 She glanced
timidly towards him； uncertain whether to go forward or retreat；
and he stood gazing at her like a handsome satyr； and so they
remained for some short time without stirring or breaking silence。
At length Dolly took courage； shot past him； and hurried on。
‘Why do you spend so much breath in avoiding me？’ said Hugh；
accommodating his pace to hers； and keeping close at her side。
‘I wish to get back as quickly as I can； and you walk too near
me； answered Dolly。’
‘Too near！’ said Hugh； stooping over her so that she could feel
his breath upon her forehead。 ‘Why too near？ You’re always proud
to me； mistress。’
‘I am proud to no one。 You mistake me；’ answered Dolly。 ‘Fall
back； if you please； or go on。’
‘Nay； mistress；’ he rejoined； endeavouring to draw her arm
through his； ‘I’ll walk with you。’
She released herself and clenching her little hand； struck him
with right good will。 At this； Maypole Hugh burst into a roar of
laughter； and passing his arm about her waist； held her in his
strong grasp as easily as if she had been a bird。
‘Ha ha ha！ Well done； mistress！ Strike again。 You shall beat my
face； and tear my hair； and pluck my beard up by the roots； and
welcome； for the sake of your bright eyes。 Strike again； mistress。
Do。 Ha ha ha！ I like it。’
‘Let me go；’ she cried； endeavouring with both her hands to
push him off。 ‘Let me go this moment。’
‘You had as good be kinder to me； Sweetlips；’ said Hugh。 ‘You
had； indeed。 Come。 Tell me now。 Why are you always so proud？ I
don’t quarrel with you for it。 I love you when you’re proud。 Ha ha
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ha！ You can’t hide your beauty from a poor fellow； that’s a
comfort！’
She gave him no answer； but as he had not yet checked her
progress； continued to press forward as rapidly as she could。 At
length； between the hurry she had made； her terror； and the
tightness of his embrace； her strength failed her； and she could go
no further。
‘Hugh；’ cried the panting girl； ‘good Hugh； if you will leave me I
will give you anything—everything I have—and never tell one
word of this to any living creature。’
‘You had best not；’ he answered。 ‘Harkye； little dove； you had
best not。 All about here know me； and what I dare do if I have a
mind。 If ever you are going to tell； stop when the words are on
your lips； and think of the mischief you’ll bring； if you do； upon
some innocent heads that you wouldn’t wish to hurt a hair of。
Bring trouble on me； and I’ll bring trouble and something more on
them in return。 I care no more for them than for so many dogs； not
so much—why should I？ I’d sooner kill a man than a dog any day。
I’ve never been sorry for a man’s death in all my life； and I have
for a dog’s。’
There was something so thoroughly savage in the manner of
these expressions； and the looks and gestures by which they were
accompanied； that her great fear of him gave her new strength；
and enabled her by a sudden effort to extricate herself and run
fleetly from him。 But Hugh was as nimble； strong； and swift of
foot； as any man in broad England； and it was but a fruitless
expenditure of energy； for he had her in his encircling arms again
before she had gone a hundred yards。
‘Softly； darling—gently—would you fly from rough Hugh； that
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loves you as well as any drawing…room gallant？’
‘I would；’ she answered； struggling to free herself again。 ‘I will。
Help！’
‘A fine for crying out；’ said Hugh。 ‘Ha ha ha！ A fine； pretty one；
from your lips。 I pay myself！ Ha ha ha！’
‘Help！ help！ help！’ As she shrieked with the utmost violence she
could exert； a shout was heard in answer； and another； and
another。
‘Thank Heaven！’ cried the girl in an ecstasy。 ‘Joe； dear Joe； this
way。 Help！’
Her assailant paused； and stood irresolute for a moment； but
the shouts drawing nearer and coming quick upon them； forced
him to a speedy decision。 He released her； whispered with a
menacing look； ‘Tell him： and see what follows！’ and leaping the
hedge； was gone in an instant。 Dolly darted off； and fairly ran into
Joe Willet’s open arms。
‘What is the matter？ are you hurt？ what was it？ who was it？
where is he？ what was he like？’ with a great many encouraging
expressions and assurances of safety； were the first words Joe
poured forth。 But poor little Dolly was so breathless and terrified
that for some time she was quite unable to answer him； and hung
upon his shoulder； sobbing and crying as if her heart would break。
Joe had not the smallest objection to have her hanging on his
shoulder； no； not the least； though it crushed the cherry…coloured
ribbons sadly； and put the smart little hat out of all shape。 But he
couldn’t bear to see her cry； it went to his very heart。 He tried to
console her； bent over her； whispered to her—some say kissed her；
but that’s a fable。 At any rate he said all the kind and tender things
he could think of and Dolly let him go on and didn’t interrupt him
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once； and it was a good ten minutes before she was able to raise
her head and thank him。
‘What was it that frightened you？’ said Joe。
A man whose person was unknown to her had follo