Yet now that he had gone through so terrible an ordeal she had a yearning to offer him her sympathy, if not to forgive him.
"No, I can't do that," she murmured.

"Accident or not, that vile woman was with him--his arms were round her.

I'll swear my eyes didn't play me false." Suddenly she heard a halting step behind her.

The heath at night was a favourite haunt of questionable characters from dissolute men of fashion to footpads, and a lone woman had need to dread one as much as the other.

Betty's cottage was but a few yards away, and Lavinia quickened her pace.
"Miss Fenton--one moment, I entreat," came in a panting whisper.