He then thanked Mary Wells with more warmth than the occasion seemed to call for, and retired very slowly: he had come very quickly.
Mary Wells looked after him, and asked herself wildly if she could not make some use of him and his manifest infatuation.
But before her mind could fix on any idea, and, indeed, before the young clergyman had taken twenty steps homeward, loud voices were heard down the shrubbery.
These were followed by an agonized scream.
Mary Wells started up, and the young parson turned: they looked at each other in amazement.
Then came wild and piercing cries for help--in a woman's voice.
The young clergyman cried out, _"Her_ voice! _her_ voice!" and dashed into the shrubbery with a speed Mary Wells had never seen equaled.

He had won the 200-yard race at Oxford in his day.
The agonized screams were repeated, and Mary Wells screamed in response as she ran toward the place..