132 WYLDER'S HAJVD.
"I ought to be afraid of nothing now, Stanley, but I
think I am afraid of everything."
"Merely a little nervous — it's nothing—I've been
wretchedly since, myself; but, I'm so glad you are home
again; you shall have no more trouble, I assure you;
and not a creature suspects you have been from home.
Old Tamar has behaved admirably."
Rachel sighed again, and said —
"Yes — poor Tamar."
"And now, dear, I'm afraid I must leave you—I'm
very sorry; but you see how it is; keep to the shady
side, close by the hedge, where the trees stop; but I'm
certain you will meet no one. Tamar will tell you who
has called — hardly anyone — I saw them myself every
day at Brandon, and told them you were ill. You've
been very kind, Radie; I assure you I'll never forgot it.
You'll find Tamar up and watching for you — I arranged
all that; and I need not say you'll be very careful not to
let that little girl of yours hear anything. Good-night,
Radie; God bless you, dear. I wish very much I could
see you all the way, but there's a risk in it, you know.
Good-night, dear Radie. By-the-bye, here's your bag;
I'll take the rug, it's too heavy for you, and I may as
well have it to Dollington."
He kissed her cheek in his slight way, and left her,
and was soon on his way to Dollington, where he slept
that night — rather more comfortably than he had done
since Rachel's departure.
Rachel walked on swiftly. Very tired, but not at all
sleepy — on the contrary, excited and nervous, and rather
relieved, notwithstanding that Stanley had left her to
walk home alone.
It seemed to her that more than a month had passed
since she saw the mill road last. How much had hap-