If
Lilian had fled from the proximity of her pursuer, she must of
course have taken refuge with some friend.
"Let us go to the Liversedges'," he exclaimed. "I have a cab"----
"Stop, Mr. Quarrier.--I haven't told you the worst. She ran from
the house just as she was, without her hat"----
"What do you mean? Why should she----?"
"She was in a dreadful state. I had done my best to soothe her. I
was just going to send for you. My servant saw her run out from the
sitting-room into the garden, and the gate wasn't opened--she must
have gone the back way--into the fields."
"Into the fields----?"
He stared at her with a look of gathering horror, and his tongue
failed him.
"I followed that way. I searched everywhere. I went a long way over
towards"----
She broke off, quivering from head to foot.
"But she _must_ have gone somewhere for refuge--to some one's
house."
"I hope so! Oh, I hope so!"
Her voice choked; tears started from her eyes.
"What do you fear? Tell me at once, plainly!"
She caught his hand, and replied with sobs of anguish.
"Why should she have gone into the fields?--without anything on
her head--into the fields that lead over to"----
"To--you don't mean to--the water?"
Still clinging to his hand, she sobbed, tried to utter words of
denial, then again of fear. For the instant Denzil was paralyzed,
but rapidly he released himself, and in a voice of command bade her
follow.
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