She tore herself from his grasp and fled through the wood, not daring to turn her head to see if he followed, lest in her woman's weakness she should give way and dare everything for his sake. CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. CAUGHT ONCE MORE. Marion did not check her pace till, hot and breathless, she was forced to rest for a few minutes. Her brain was in a state of bewildering confusion, and had Chester been there then to plead his cause, her heart would have made but a poor defence. She would have been his, and his alone. But in a few minutes she began to grow calmer; the dangers of such a course were more and more apparent, and at last, as she walked on towards The Towers, her thoughts of the future assumed their wonted current, and she began to plan. She was not long in deciding what to do. Chester was evidently staying somewhere near at hand; he would grow more and more persistent, and she could see nothing in the future but his presence being discovered by James Clareborough or his brother, and then some terrible mischief would arise, and fresh misery ensue. There seemed to be but one course open, and that was to escape from Chester's pursuit and to this end she went quietly into her own room to try and grow more composed, joined the others at lunch, and then in the most quiet, matter-of-fact way ordered the pony carriage to be round directly after for a drive. "You will not go with me, I suppose, Di?" she said to James's wife. "I? No, thank you, Marion. I am not well to-day," said the lady, flushing. "Will you come, Hester?" she continued. "I can't; I am going over to the Ellistons' to tennis," was the reply. "Then I'll have my little drive alone," said Marion, smiling; and shortly afterwards she stepped into the phaeton, the boy groom sprang up behind, and the spirited little ponies started off along the park drive at a rapid pace. "How nice Marion always looks," said Mrs Dennis, "and how well she drives." "Yes," said her sister-in-law, bitterly; "everyone admires her. It is always Marion, Marion! Why did he not marry her? He would if I died. How long does it take, Hester, to break a woman's heart?" "Oh, hush, hush, dear!" whispered her sister-in-law, soothingly. "I know how sad it is, but you ought not to be so cold to poor Marion. I honestly believe that she absolutely hates James." "Hates? when she does all that she can to lure him on?" "That is not true, dear," said Mrs Dennis, gravely. "I know Marion better than you do, because you have always shut your heart against her." "Well, can you wonder?" "Yes and no. It is a terrible position, and I pity you, dear; but believe me, James's advances fill Marion with disgust and shame, and some day you will find this out." "I'd give the world to believe it," sobbed the wretched woman, "but I cannot, and I am certain that she has gone to keep some appointment with him now." "You are unjust, Di dear," said Mrs Dennis, kissing her lovingly.