"Where I'll bring thee food and covers, father," cried Mace, who found relief from her own troubles in helping others. "Nay, child, thou wilt be watched by one at the Pool. Tom Croftly will bring me all I want, if thou givest it to him. He is trusty, and will bring any message or letter with faith and care. I shall be watching over thee still, though I am in the old hole of the rock. It is not the first time that I have had to hide for life and liberty. But hark here, my child, I have said come not. If matters occur that make it necessary for thee to flee thine home sooner than wed a man thou dost despise, come to me in the forest, and maybe together we may escape to where I can find thee a home with a holy sister, and rest and peace." "Thanks, father, oh, thanks!" cried Mace. "But listen: Master Peasegood has been taken away." "So soon? But I am not surprised. It is because he refused the same offer as I." "Were you asked, father?" "Nay, child, I was ordered; and that is the real reason why I am hunted down. Hist! steps! Go on." Mace involuntarily walked on through the wood, bitterly lamenting that she should bring indirectly such misery upon those she esteemed, when a slight rustle in the bushes made her turn her head and utter a faint cry, as she was tightly clasped in Sir Mark Leslie's arms. Volume 2, Chapter XVII. HOW MACE MADE A PROMISE. "I do not often exact my lover's fees," cried Sir Mark, kissing her passionately in spite of her struggles, while a feeling of horror half froze her, as she thought that this man must have heard the conversation with the father. In a few moments, though, she had freed herself, and stood panting before him, longing to look back, and straining to listen to every rustle of the leaves behind her, and yet not daring so to do, lest it should draw attention to the fugitive. "How silent you are," he said, laughing. "A stranger would think you feared me, and not that we were so soon to be man and wife. My darling, is it not time we grew less distant?" "Let me pass, Sir Mark!" cried Mace, hardly knowing what she did or said. "Pass! No, little meadow-sweet. I will walk home with thee, proud and delighted to be thy champion and protector--the happiest man on earth." He talked on as he walked by her side, turning from time to time to gaze on her white face, as they neared the cluster of houses near the Pool, and seeming pleased that first one head, and then another, should be turned to gaze after them as they went across the little bridge and into the porch.