Mrs. Wade
remembered that Lilian had discovered this exit one day not long
ago.
"I don't understand it," she continued, hurriedly. "You run and put
Your hat on, and then look up and down the road. I'll go to the
back."
Regardless of the cold night air, she hastened in the direction that
Lilian must necessarily have taken. Reaching the field, she could at
first distinguish no object in the dark space before her. But the
sky was clear and starry, and in a few moments, running on the
while, she caught sight of a figure not very far in advance. That
undoubtedly was Lilian, escaping, speeding over the meadows--
whither?
The ground rose gradually, and at a distance of less than a quarter
of a mile cut clearly across the sky. Still advancing, though with
less speed, she saw Lilian's form gain the top of the rise, and
there stand, a black, motionless projection from the ground. If now
she called in a loud voice, the fugitive must certainly hear her;
but she kept silence. By running quickly over the grass she might
overtake her friend, who still lingered; but, as if her limbs had
failed, she crouched down, and so remained until the dark figure all
at once disappeared.
Immediately she started to her feet again, and pressed forward. A
few minutes, and she was at the top of the field, where Lilian had
paused; panting, her heart throbbing, a cold sweat on her forehand.
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