"Iss, sur. Miss Murten 'ev bin."
"Miss Morton," I said, with a glad feeling at heart. "How long has she been gone?"
"Not more'n 'bout vive or ten minutes, sur."
"Has she gone down the lane?" I said, pointing to the one I took to be that of which the old servant at the Hall had told me.
"Iss, sur," said she, timidly.
Without another word I rushed down the narrow lane which led to a distant farm, then coming to a stile I jumped over it into a field.
Daylight was now quite gone, and I knew that I must be careful. True, I did not know that Wilfred and Blackburn had come to the village at all, but I must be ready for any emergency.
I could dimly see the footpath by the hedgerow, so I ran noiselessly along it, until I reached the end of the field, then I stood upon the stile and listened. All was silent as death.
"Surely," I said. "My fears are in vain. Ruth has gone quietly back to her home. If I am quick I shall overtake her."
With this hope in my heart, yet feeling terribly anxious, I rushed along the hedgeside, and had nearly traversed the length of the field when I heard what I thought was a smothered scream.