"I do not know," said Frank; "but if you are an English stranger, I advise you to turn back till daybreak. There has been a skirmish, and the neighbourhood is not perfectly safe for travellers." "The soldiers had the worst of it, had they not?" "They had, indeed--an officer's party was destroyed or made prisoners." "Are you sure of that?" persisted the man on horseback. "I was an unwilling spectator of the battle!" said Frank. "Unwilling! Were not you engaged in it?" "Certainly not," he answered, a little nettled at the man's tone. "I was held a prisoner by the King's officer!" "On what suspicion? And who and what are you?" "I really do not know, sir," said Frank, growing quickly angry, "why I should answer so many questions put to me by a stranger. I ask you no questions as to your business here, and you will oblige me by making no inquiries as to mine." But a new voice struck in, in tones which made every nerve in the young man's body tingle. "Mr. Francis Osbaldistone," it said, "should not whistle his favourite airs when he wishes to remain undiscovered." And Diana Vernon, for it was she, wrapped in a horseman's cloak, whistled in playful mimicry the second part of the tune, which had been on Frank's lips as they came up with him. "Great heavens, can it be you, Miss Vernon," cried Frank, when at last he found words, "in such a spot--at such an hour--in such a lawless country!" While Frank was speaking, he was trying to gain a glimpse of her companion. The man was certainly not Rashleigh. For so much he was thankful, at least, nor could the stranger's courteous address proceed from any of the other Osbaldistone brothers. There was in it too much good breeding and knowledge of the world for that. But there was also something of impatience in the attitude of Diana's companion, which was not long in manifesting itself. "Diana," he said, "give your cousin his property, and let us not spend time here." Whereupon Miss Vernon took out a small case, and with a deeper and graver tone of feeling she said, "Dear cousin, you see I was born to be your better angel. Rashleigh has been compelled to give up his spoil, and had we reached Aberfoil last night, I would have found some messenger to give you these. But now I have to do the errand myself." "Diana," said the horseman, "the evening grows late, and we are yet far from our home." "Pray consider, sir," she said, lightly answering him, "how recently I have been under control. Besides, I have not yet given my cousin his packet--or bidden him farewell--farewell forever! Yes, Frank, forever. (She added the last words in a lower tone.) There is a gulf fixed between us! Where I go, you must not follow--what we do, you must not share in--farewell--be happy!"