anybody with tenfold the gravity of Dolly Varden could be
reasonably expected to remember； at length dismissed her。
Dolly bade her good bye； and tripping lightly down the stairs
arrived at the dreaded library door； and was about to pass it again
on tiptoe； when it opened； and behold！ there stood Mr Haredale。
Now； Dolly had from her childhood associated with this gentleman
the idea of something grim and ghostly； and being at the moment
conscience…stricken besides； the sight of him threw her into such a
flurry that she could neither acknowledge his presence nor run
away； so she gave a great start； and then with downcast eyes stood
still and trembled。
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‘Come here； girl；’ said Mr Haredale； taking her by the hand。 ‘I
want to speak to you。’
‘If you please； sir； I’m in a hurry；’ faltered Dolly； ‘and—you have
frightened me by coming so suddenly upon me； sir—I would
rather go； sir； if you’ll be so good as to let me。’
‘Immediately；’ said Mr Haredale； who had by this time led her
into the room and closed the door。 You shall go directly。 You have
just left Emma？’
‘Yes； sir； just this minute。—Father’s waiting for me； sir； if you’ll
please to have the goodness—’
I know。 I know；’ said Mr Haredale。 ‘Answer me a question。
What did you bring here to…day？’
‘Bring here； sir？’ faltered Dolly。
‘You will tell me the truth； I am sure。 Yes。’
Dolly hesitated for a little while； and somewhat emboldened by
his manner； said at last； ‘Well then； sir。 It was a letter。’
‘From Mr Edward Chester； of course。 And you are the bearer of
the answer？’
Dolly hesitated again； and not being able to decide upon any
other course of action； burst into tears。
‘You alarm yourself without cause；’ said Mr Haredale。 ‘Why are
you so foolish？ Surely you can answer me。 You know that I have
but to put the question to Emma and learn the truth directly。 Have
you the answer with you？’
Dolly had what is popularly called a spirit of her own； and being
now fairly at bay； made the best of it。
‘Yes； sir；’ she rejoined； trembling and frightened as she was。
‘Yes； sir； I have。 You may kill me if you please； sir； but I won’t give
it up。 I’m very sorry；—but I won’t。 There； sir。’
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‘I commend your firmness and your plain…speaking；’ said Mr
Haredale。 ‘Rest assured that I have as little desire to take your
letter as your life。 You are a very discreet messenger and a good
girl。’
Not feeling quite certain； as she afterwards said； whether he
might not be ‘coming over her’ with these compliments； Dolly kept
as far from him as she could； cried again； and resolved to defend
her pocket （for the letter was there） to the last extremity。
‘I have some design；’ said Mr Haredale after a short silence；
during which a smile； as he regarded her； had struggled through
the gloom and melancholy that was natural to his face； ‘of
providing a companion for my niece； for her life is a very lonely
one。 Would you like the office？ You are the oldest friend she has；
and the best entitled to it。’
‘I don’t know； sir；’ answered Dolly； not sure but he was
bantering her； ‘I can’t say。 I don’t know what they might wish at
home。 I couldn’t give an opinion； sir。’
‘If your friends had no objection； would you have any？’ said Mr
Haredale。 ‘Come。 There’s a plain question； and easy to answer。’
‘None at all that I know of sir；’ replied Dolly。 ‘I should be very
glad to be near Miss Emma of course； and always am。’
‘That’s well；’ said Mr Haredale。 ‘That is all I had to say。 You are
anxious to go。 Don’t let me detain you。’
Dolly didn’t let him； nor did she wait for him to try； for the
words had no sooner passed his lips than she was out of the room；
out of the house； and in the fields again。
The first thing to be done； of course； when she came to herself
and considered what a flurry she had been in； was to cry afresh；
and the next thing； when she reflected how well she had got over
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it； was to laugh heartily。 The tears once banished gave place to the
smiles； and at last Dolly laughed so much that she was fain to lean
against a tree； and give vent to her exultation。 When she could
laugh no longer； and was quite tired； she put her head…dress to
rights； dried her eyes； looked back very merrily and triumphantly
at the Warren chimneys； which were just visible； and resumed her
walk。
The twilight had come on； and it was quickly growing dusk； but
the path was so familiar to her from frequent traversing that she
hardly thought of this； and certainly felt no uneasiness at being left
alone。 Moreover； there was the bracelet to admire； and when she
had given it a good rub； and held it out at arm’s length； it sparkled
and glittered so beautifully on her wrist； that to look at it in every
point of view and with every possible turn of the arm； was quite an
absorbing business。 There was the letter too； and it looked so
mysterious and knowing； when she took it out of her pocket； and it
held； as she knew； so much inside； that to turn it over and over；
and think about it； and wonder how it began； and how it ended；
and what it said all through； was another matter of constant
occupation。 Between the bracelet and the letter； there was quite
enough to do without thinking of anything else； and admiring each
by turns； Dolly went on gaily。
As she passed through a wicket…gate to where the path was
narrow； and lay between two hedges garnished here and there
with trees； she heard a rustling close at hand； which brought her
to a sudden stop。 She listened。 All was very quiet； and she went on
again—not absolutely frightened； but a little quicker than before
perhaps； and possibly not quite so much at her ease； for a check of
that kind is startling。
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She had no sooner moved on again； than she was conscious of
the same sound； which was like that of a person tramping
stealthily among bushes and brushwood。 Looking towards the
spot whence it appeared to come； she almost fancied she could
make out a crouching figure。 She stopped again。 All was quiet as
before。 On she went once more—decidedly faster now—and tried
to sing softly to herself。 It must he the wind。
But how came the wind to blow only when she walked； and
cease when she stood still？ She stopped involuntarily as she made
the reflection； and the rustling noise stopped likewise。 She was
really frightened now； and was yet hesitating what to do； when the
bushes crackled and snapped； and a man came plunging through
them； close before her。
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Chapter 21
t was for the moment an inexpressible relief to Dolly； to
recognise in the person who forced himself into the path so
Iabruptly； and now stood directly in her way； Hugh of the
Maypole； whose name she uttered in a tone of delighted surprise
that came from her heart。
‘Was it you？’ she said； ‘how glad I am to see you！ and how could
you terrify me so！’
In answer to which； he said nothing at all； but stood quite still；
looking at her。
‘Did you come to meet me？’ asked Dolly。
Hugh nodded； and muttered something to the effect that he had
been waiting for her； and had expected her sooner。
‘I thought it likely they would send；’ said Dolly； greatly
reassured by this。
‘Nobody sent me；’ was his sullen answer。 ‘I came of my own
accord。’
The rough bearing of this fellow； and his wild； uncouth
appearance； had often filled the girl with a vague apprehension
even when other people were by； and had occasioned her to shrink
from him involuntarily。 The having him for an unbidden
companion in so solitary a place； with the darkness fast gathering
about them； renewed and even increased the alarm she had felt at
first。
If his manner had been merely dogged and passively fierce； as
usual； she would have had no greater dislike to his company than
she always felt—perhaps； indeed； would have been rather glad t
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