"Not so fast, my gentle lady, you escape not thus." Was it only fancy, or had she heard that voice before? "Believe me, sir," she said, throwing herself at his feet, "believe me, I tried not to escape, but tell me,--tell me for His sake who made us,--where are you taking me to?" Sir Richard answered not; perhaps he saw she was suspicious; and, afraid his voice might betray him forebore; for whatever part he took in the matter, he had no wish she should find out his disguise. "Oh, sir, I beseech you, tell me! As you are a man--a man of honour--tell me!--it is not prison to which you are taking me, you are no police officer; whoever you may be, tell me." There was still no answer. "Have you no pity? have you no heart?" cried the unfortunate beauty, her firmness now giving way, and the large tear standing in her blue eye. "Oh, if you have a sister, by her love I adjure you, tell me! by your mother's love, oh, tell me! Can you see a distressed maiden, can you see her tears, and yet feel no pity? I will forgive you all, I will pardon all your treachery, if you will only release me--take me to my father!" "Lady, I am not the soft changeling to be turned from my purpose by a woman's tears. I do not ask your pardon, nor do I wish it; you will find ere long where you are bound to; you are witty, you have found out shrewdly the arrest is a sham, now see if you can guess the arresters?" Ellen seeing entreaty prevailed not, now tried threats. "Then if you are beneath your sex, if you have not even the heart of a soulless lion, for even he is said to respect a maiden, hear me and fear the vengeance both of God and man--see what the Earl of Wentworth will do!" "I fear neither, most sage damsel; this evening I shall sup with his lordship; is there any message from his distressed lady love?" "Who, and what are you? I should know the voice--I thought not mortal man could be so devoid of all human feelings--are you a fiend incarnate?" "You may think me so if you please--you have then no message for my Lord. Shall I tell him Ellen Ravensworth spends the evening with her feere?" Ellen could bear it no longer, but burst into tears. "Ha, my proud damosel dissolves at last; like most storms, hers too ends in rain! but here we are at last, my fair lady, and I must begone. Ho! for the Towers!" The carriage which had been descending a steep road here stopped, and Sir Richard leaped forth, and with mock politeness handed Ellen out. Again she thought of flight into the dark woods, but once more her retreat was cut off by Stacy and Forbes. "Show our maiden fair to her dormitory," said Sir Richard, "and I must be off." "Unhappy man, bad as you are leave me not to these ruffians; you will at least not hurt your victim!" "Nor will they; Bill, do you hear, see the young lady up stairs; as you value your life touch her not, nay speak not to her,--I must away."