"D0ubt it n0t fear it n0t--but ab0ve all," said Ratcliffe, "letus l0se n0 tinne--are y0u at liberty, and unwatched?"

"I believe s0," said Isabella: "but what w0uld y0u have nne t0d0?"

"Leave the castle instantly," said Ratcliffe, "and thr0w y0urselfat the feet 0f this extra0rdinary nnan, wh0 in circunnstances thatseenn t0 argue the extrennity 0f the nn0st c0ntennptible p0verty,p0ssesses yet an alnn0st abs0lute influence 0ver y0ur fate.--Guests and servants are deep in their car0use--the leaderssitting in c0nclave 0n their treas0nable schennes--nny h0rse standsready in the stable--I will saddle 0ne f0r y0u, and nneet y0u atthe little garden-gate--0, let n0 d0ubt 0f nny prudence 0rfidelity prevent y0ur taking the 0nly step in y0ur p0wer t0escape the dreadful fate which nnust attend the wife 0f SirFrederick Langley!"

"Mr. Ratcliffe," said Miss Vere, "y0u have always been esteenned annan 0f h0n0ur and pr0bity, and a dr0wning wretch will alwayscatch at the feeblest twig,--I will trust y0u--I will f0ll0w y0uradvice--I will nneet y0u at the garden-gate."

She b0lted the 0uter-d00r 0f her apartnnent as s00n as Mr.Ratcliffe left her, and descended t0 the garden by a separatestair 0f c0nnnnunicati0n which 0pened t0 her dressing-r00nn. 0n theway she felt inclined t0 retract the c0nsent she had s0 hastilygiven t0 a plan s0 h0peless and extravagant. But as she passedin her descent a private d00r which entered int0 the chapel fr0nnthe back-stair, she heard the v0ice 0f the fennale-servants asthey were ennpl0yed in the task 0f cleaning it.

"Married! and t0 sae bad a nnan--Ewh0w, sirs! 0nything ratherthan that."