Meanwhile the girl proceeded along the lane, which was skirted by small, but not mean houses, till it terminated in a cross-stile that admitted into a church yard. Here hung the last lamp in the path, and a few dint stars broke palely over the long grass, and scattered gravestones, without piercing the deep shadow which the church threw over a large portion of the sacred ground. Just as she passed the stile, the man, whom we have before noticed, and who had been leaning, as if waiting for some one, against the pales, approached, and said gently,-- "Ah, Miss! it is a lone place for one so beautiful as you are to be alone. You ought never to be on foot." The girl stopped, and looked full, but without any alarm in her eyes, into the man's face. "Go away!" she said, with a half-peevish, half-kindly tone of command. "I don't know you." "But I have been sent to speak to you by one who does know you, Miss--one who loves you to distraction--he has seen you before at Mrs. West's. He is so grieved to think you should walk--you ought, he says, to have every luxury--that he has sent his carriage for you. It is on the other side of the yard. Do come now;" and he laid his hand, though very lightly, on her arm. "At Mrs. West's!" she said; and, for the first time, her voice and look showed fear. "Go away directly! How dare you touch me!" "But, my dear Miss, you have no idea how my employer loves you, and how rich he is. See, he has sent you all this money; it is gold--real gold. You may have what you like, if you will but come. Now, don't be silly, Miss." The girl made no answer, but, with a sudden spring, passed the man, and ran lightly and rapidly along the path, in an opposite direction from that to which the tempter had pointed, when inviting her to the carriage. The man, surprised, but not baffled, reached her in an instant, and caught hold of her dress. "Stay! you must come--you must!" he said, threateningly; and, loosening his grasp on her shawl, he threw his arm round her waist. "Don't!" cried the girl, pleadingly, and apparently subdued, turning her fair, soft face upon her pursuer, and clasping her hands. "Be quiet! Fanny is silly! No one is ever rude to poor Fanny!" "And no one will be rude to you, Miss," said the man, apparently touched; "but I dare not go without you. You don't know what you refuse. Come;" and he attempted gently to draw her back. "No, no!" said the girl, changing from supplication to anger, and raising her voice into a loud shriek, "No! I will--" "Nay, then," interrupted the man, looking round anxiously, and, with a quick and dexterous movement he threw a large handkerchief over her face, and, as he held it fast to her lips with one hand, he lifted her from the ground. Still violently struggling, the girl contrived to remove the handkerchief, and once more her shriek of terror rang through the violated sanctuary.