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her head and thank him。
‘What was it that frightened you？’ said Joe。
A man whose person was unknown to her had followed her； she
answered； he began by begging； and went on to threats of robbery；
which he was on the point of carrying into execution； and would
have executed； but for Joe’s timely aid。 The hesitation and
confusion with which she said this； Joe attributed to the fright she
had sustained； and no suspicion of the truth occurred to him for a
moment。
‘Stop when the words are on your lips。’ A hundred times that
night； and very often afterwards； when the disclosure was rising to
her tongue； Dolly thought of that； and repressed it。 A deeply
rooted dread of the man； the conviction that his ferocious nature；
once roused； would stop at nothing； and the strong assurance that
if she impeached him； the full measure of his wrath and vengeance
would be wreaked on Joe； who had preserved her； these were
considerations she had not the courage to overcome； and
inducements to secrecy too powerful for her to surmount。
Joe； for his part； was a great deal too happy to inquire very
curiously into the matter； and Dolly being yet too tremulous to
walk without assistance； they went forward very slowly； and in his
mind very pleasantly； until the Maypole lights were near at hand；
twinkling their cheerful welcome； when Dolly stopped suddenly
and with a half scream exclaimed；
‘The letter！’
‘What letter？’ cried Joe。
‘That I was carrying—I had it in my hand。 My bracelet too；’ she
said； clasping her wrist。 ‘I have lost them both。’
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‘Do you mean just now？’ said Joe。
‘Either I dropped them then； or they were taken from me；’
answered Dolly； vainly searching her pocket and rustling her
dress。 ‘They are gone； both gone。 What an unhappy girl I am！’
With these words poor Dolly； who to do her justice was quite as
sorry for the loss of the letter as for her bracelet； fell a…crying
again； and bemoaned her fate most movingly。
Joe tried to comfort her with the assurance that directly he had
housed her in the Maypole； he would return to the spot with a
lantern （for it was now quite dark） and make strict search for the
missing articles； which there was great probability of his finding；
as it was not likely that anybody had passed that way since； and
she was not conscious that they had been forcibly taken from her。
Dolly thanked him very heartily for this offer； though with no
great hope of his quest being successful； and so with many
lamentations on her side； and many hopeful words on his； and
much weakness on the part of Dolly and much tender supporting
on the part of Joe； they reached the Maypole bar at last； where the
locksmith and his wife and old John were yet keeping high
festival。
Mr Willet received the intelligence of Dolly’s trouble with that
surprising presence of mind and readiness of speech for which he
was so eminently distinguished above all other men。 Mrs Varden
expressed her sympathy for her daughter’s distress by scolding
her roundly for being so late； and the honest locksmith divided
himself between condoling with and kissing Dolly； and shaking
hands heartily with Joe； whom he could not sufficiently praise or
thank。
In reference to this latter point； old John was far from agreeing
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with his friend； for besides that he by no means approved of an
adventurous spirit in the abstract； it occurred to him that if his son
and heir had been seriously damaged in a scuffle； the
consequences would assuredly have been expensive and
inconvenient； and might perhaps have proved detrimental to the
Maypole business。 Wherefore； and because he looked with no
favourable eye upon young girls； but rather considered that they
and the whole female sex were a kind of nonsensical mistake on
the part of Nature； he took occasion to retire and shake his head in
private at the boiler； inspired by which silent oracle； he was moved
to give Joe various stealthy nudges with his elbow； as a parental
reproof and gentle admonition to mind his own business and not
make a fool of himself。
Joe； however； took down the lantern and lighted it； and arming
himself with a stout stick； asked whether Hugh was in the stable。
‘He’s lying asleep before the kitchen fire； sir；’ said Mr Willet。
‘What do you want him for？’
‘I want him to come with me to look after this bracelet and
letter；’ answered Joe。 ‘Halloa there！ Hugh！’
Dolly turned pale as death； and felt as if she must faint
forthwith。 After a few moments； Hugh came staggering in；
stretching himself and yawning according to custom； and
presenting every appearance of having been roused from a sound
nap。
‘Here； sleepy…head；’ said Joe； giving him the lantern。 ‘Carry
this； and bring the dog； and that small cudgel of yours。 And woe
betide the fellow if we come upon him。’
‘What fellow？’ growled Hugh； rubbing his eyes and shaking
himself。
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‘What fellow？’ returned Joe； who was in a state of great valour
and bustle； ‘a fellow you ought to know of and be more alive about。
It’s well for the like of you； lazy giant that you are； to be snoring
your time away in chimney…corners； when honest men’s daughters
can’t cross even our quiet meadows at nightfall without being set
upon by footpads； and frightened out of their precious lives。’
‘They never rob me；’ cried Hugh with a laugh。 ‘I have got
nothing to lose。 But I’d as lie