But I'm sure--' At length she left the room, to go out of the house by the back-door and call at the neighbours'.

Scarcely was she away, when Emily darted upstairs, and in an instant was down again, with her hat and a cloak; another moment, and she was out in the road.

She did not forget the terror her mother would suffer, on finding her gone; but endurance had reached its limit.

It was growing dark.

After one look in the direction of Dunfield, she took the opposite way, and ran towards the Heath, ran till her breath failed and she had to drop into a quick walk.