As she spoke they were on the summit of the slope, with their figures against the sky-line to any one below, and in proof of this there was a shout from a short distance below, and a cry of "Stop!" "Crellock!" muttered Mrs Hallam, and she glanced from side to side for a place of concealment, but only to see that the attempt to hide would be only folly. "Can you run, Julie?" she whispered. For answer Julia started off, and for about a hundred yards they ran down the slope, and then stopped, panting. They could make no further effort save that of facing their pursuer, who dashed down to them breathless. "A pretty foolish trick," he cried. "Mercy I found you gone, and came. What did you expect would become of you out here in the night?" "Loose my hand," cried Julia angrily; "I will not come back." "Indeed, but you will, little wifie. There, it's of no use to struggle; you are mine, and must." "Julia, hold by me," cried Mrs Hallam frantically. "Help!" "Hah!" That ejaculation was from Crellock, for as Mrs Hallam's appeal for help rang out amongst the trees of the gully into which they had descended, there was the dull sound of a heavy blow, and their assailant fell with a crash amongst the low growth of scrub. "This way," said a familiar voice. "Do you want to join Thisbe King?" "Yes, yes," cried Julia, sobbing now; "but how did you know?" "How did I know!" was the reply, half sadly, half laughingly. "Oh, I have played the spy: waiting till you wanted help." "Christie Bayle!" wailed Mrs Hallam; "my friend in need." He did not answer. He hardly heard her words as Mrs Hallam staggered on by his side, for two little hands were clinging to his arm, Julia's head was resting against him, as she nestled closer and closer, and his heart beat madly, for it seemed to him as if it was in his breast that Julia Hallam would seek for safety in her time of need. VOLUME FOUR, CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. IN SANCTUARY. "Let them come if they dare, my dear," said Thisbe stoutly. "I've only waited for this. You know how I've never said word against him, but have seen and borne everything." "Yes, yes," sighed Mrs Hallam. "For, I said to myself, the day will come when she will see everything in its true light, and then--" Thisbe said no more, but cut her sentence in half by closing her lips more tightly than they had ever been closed before, as, with a smile, she busied herself about Julia and her mother. "I was in a way last night," she said cheerily, as she straightened first one thing and then another in the modest lodgings she had secured, "but I daren't come away for fear you might get here while I was looking for you. You don't know the relief I felt when Mr Bayle knocked at the door with you two poor tired things. There, you needn't say a word, only be quiet and rest."