The reddleman started, and held up his finger. He stopped the horses, and beckoned to her to withdraw with him a few yards aside, which she did, wondering. 

 “You don’t know me, ma’am, I suppose?” he said. 

 “I do not,” said she. “Why, yes, I do! You are young Venn—your father was a dairyman somewhere here?” 

 “Yes; and I knew your niece, Miss Tamsin, a little. I have something bad to tell you.” 

 “About her—no! She has just come home, I believe, with her husband. They arranged to return this afternoon—to the inn beyond here.” 

 “She’s not there.” 

 “How do you know?” 

 “Because she’s here. She’s in my van,” he added slowly. 

 “What new trouble has come?” murmured Mrs. Yeobright, putting her hand over her eyes. 

 “I can’t explain much, ma’am. All I know is that, as I was going along the road this morning, about a mile out of Anglebury, I heard something trotting after me like a doe, and looking round there she was, white as death itself. ‘Oh, Diggory Venn!’ she said, ‘I thought ’twas you—will you help me? I am in trouble.’” 

 “How did she know your Christian name?” said Mrs. Yeobright doubtingly. 

 “I had met her as a lad before I went away in this trade. She asked then if she might ride, and then down she fell in a faint. I picked her up and put her in, and there she has been ever since. She has cried a good deal, but she has hardly spoke; all she has told me being that she was to have been married this morning. I tried to get her to eat something, but she couldn’t; and at last she fell asleep.” 

 “Let me see her at once,” said Mrs. Yeobright, hastening towards the van. 

 The reddleman followed with the lantern, and, stepping up first, assisted Mrs. Yeobright to mount beside him. On the door being opened she perceived at the end of the van an extemporized couch, around which was hung apparently all the drapery that the reddleman possessed, to keep the occupant of the little couch from contact with 

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