’Nothing，nothing，’saidhemournfully。’Merewords——aphrasethatwilldoformysermonnextSunday。’ItwastooplainthatLizzywasunawarethathehadseenactualpedestriansplashesupontheskirtsofthetell-taleovercoat，andthatsheimaginedhimtobelieveithadcomedirectfromsomechestordrawer。
Theaspectofthecasewasnowconsiderablydarker。Stockdalewassomuchdepressedbyitthathedidnotchallengeherexplanation，orthreatentogooffasamissionarytobenightedislanders，orreproachherinanywaywhatever。Hesimplypartedfromherwhenshehaddonetalking，andlivedoninperplexity，tillbydegreeshisnaturalmannerbecamesadandconstrained。
ThefollowingThursdaywaschangeable，damp，andgloomy；andthenightthreatenedtobewindyandunpleasant。StockdalehadgoneawaytoKnollseainthemorning，tobepresentatsomecommemorationservicethere，andonhisreturnhewasmetbytheattractiveLizzyinthepassage。Whetherinfluencedbythetideofcheerfulnesswhichhadattendedhimthatday，orbythedrivethroughtheopenair，orwhetherfromanaturaldispositiontoletbygonesalone，heallowedhimselftobefascinatedintoforgetfulnessofthegreatcoatincident，anduponthewholepassedapleasantevening；notsomuchinhersocietyaswithinsoundofhervoice，asshesattalkinginthebackparlourtohermother，tillthelatterwenttobed。
ShortlyafterthisMrs。Newberryretired，andthenStockdalepreparedtogoupstairshimself。Butbeforehelefttheroomheremainedstandingbythedyingembersawhile，thinkinglongofonethingandanother；andwasonlyarousedbytheflickeringofhiscandleinthesocketasitsuddenlydeclinedandwentout。Knowingthattherewereatinder-box，matches，andanothercandleinhisbedroom，hefelthiswayupstairswithoutalight。Onreachinghischamberhelaidhishandoneverypossibleledgeandcornerforthetinderbox，butforalongtimeinvain。Discoveringitatlength，Stockdaleproducedaspark，andwaskindlingthebrimstone，whenhefanciedthatheheardamovementinthepassage。Heblewharderatthelint，thematchflaredup，andlookingbyaidofthebluelightthroughthedoor，whichhadbeenstandingopenallthistime，hewassurprisedtoseeamalefigurevanishingroundthetopofthestaircasewiththeevidentintentionofescapingunobserved。ThepersonageworetheclotheswhichLizzyhadbeenbrushing，andsomethingintheoutlineandgaitsuggestedtotheministerthatthewearerwasLizzyherself。
Buthewasnotsureofthis；and，greatlyexcited，Stockdaledeterminedtoinvestigatethemystery，andtoadopthisownwayfordoingit。Heblewoutthematchwithoutlightingthecandle，wentintothepassage，andproceededontiptoetowardsLizzy’sroom。A
faintgreysquareoflightinthedirectionofthechamber-windowasheapproachedtoldhimthatthedoorwasopen，andatoncesuggestedthattheoccupantwasgone。Heturnedandbroughtdownhisfistuponthehandrailofthestaircase:’Itwasshe；inherlatehusband’scoatandhat！’
Somewhatrelievedtofindthattherewasnointruderinthecase，yetnonethelesssurprised，theministercreptdownthestairs，softlyputonhisboots，overcoat，andhat，andtriedthefrontdoor。Itwasfastenedasusual:hewenttothebackdoor，foundthisunlocked，andemergedintothegarden。Thenightwasmildandmoonless，andrainhadlatelybeenfalling，thoughforthepresentithadceased。Therewasasuddendroppingfromthetreesandbusheseverynowandthen，aseachpassingwindshooktheirboughs。
AmongthesesoundsStockdaleheardthefaintfalloffeetupontheroadoutside，andheguessedfromthestepthatitwasLizzy’s。Hefollowedthesound，and，helpedbythecircumstanceofthewindblowingfromthedirectioninwhichthepedestrianmoved，hegotnearlyclosetoher，andkeptthere，withoutriskofbeingoverheard。Whilehethusfollowedherupthestreetorlane，asitmightindifferentlybecalled，therebeingmorehedgethanhousesoneitherside，afigurecameforwardtoherfromoneofthecottagedoors。Lizzystopped；theministersteppeduponthegrassandstoppedalso。
’IsthatMrs。Newberry？’saidthemanwhohadcomeout，whosevoiceStockdalerecognizedasthatofoneofthemostdevoutmembersofhiscongregation。
’Itis，’saidLizzy。
’Ibequiteready——I’vebeenherethisquarter-hour。’
’Ah，John，’saidshe，’Ihavebadnews；thereisdangerto-nightforourventure。’
’Andd’yetello’t！Idreamedtheremightbe。’
’Yes，’shesaidhurriedly；’andyoumustgoatonceroundtowherethechapsarewaiting，andtellthemtheywillnotbewantedtillto-morrownightatthesametime。Igotoburntheluggeroff。’
’Iwill，’hesaid；andinstantlywentoffthroughagate，Lizzycontinuingherway。
Onshetrippedataquickeningpacetillthelaneturnedintotheturnpike-road，whichshecrossed，andgotintothetrackforRingsworth。Heresheascendedthehillwithouttheleasthesitation，passedthelonelyhamletofHolworth，andwentdownthevaleontheotherside。Stockdalehadnevertakenanyextensivewalksinthisdirection，buthewasawarethatifshepersistedinhercoursemuchlongershewoulddrawneartothecoast，whichwasherebetweentwoandthreemilesdistantfromNether-Moynton；andasithadbeenaboutaquarter-pasteleveno’clockwhentheysetout，herintentionseemedtobetoreachtheshoreaboutmidnight。
Lizzysoonascendedasmallmound，whichStockdaleatthesametimeadroitlyskirtedontheleft；andadullmonotonousroarburstuponhisear。Thehillockwasaboutfiftyyardsfromthetopofthecliffs，andbydayitapparentlycommandedafullviewofthebay。
Therewaslightenoughintheskytoshowherdisguisedfigureagainstitwhenshereachedthetop，whereshepaused，andafterwardssatdown。Stockdale，notwishingonanyaccounttoalarmheratthismoment，yetdesirousofbeingnearher，sankuponhishandsandknees，creptalittlehigherup，andtherestayedstill。
Thewindwaschilly，thegrounddamp，andhispositiononeinwhichhedidnotcaretoremainlong。However，beforehehaddecidedtoleaveit，theyoungmanheardvoicesbehindhim。Whattheysignifiedhedidnotknow；but，fearingthatLizzywasindanger，hewasabouttorunforwardandwarnherthatshemightbeseen，whenshecrepttotheshelterofalittlebushwhichmaintainedaprecariousexistenceinthatexposedspot；andherformwasabsorbedinitsdarkandstuntedoutlineasifshehadbecomepartofit。
Shehadevidentlyheardthemenaswellashe。Theypassednearhim，talkinginloudandcarelesstones，whichcouldbeheardabovetheuninterruptedwashingsofthesea，andwhichsuggestedthattheywerenotengagedinanybusinessattheirownrisk。Thisprovedtobethefact:someoftheirwordsfloatedacrosstohim，andcausedhimtoforgetatoncethecoldnessofhissituation。
’What’sthevessel？’
’Alugger，aboutfiftytons。’
’FromCherbourg，Isuppose？’
’Yes，’ab’lieve。’
’Butitdon’tallbelongtoOwlett？’
’Ono。He’sonlygotashare。There’sanotherortwoinit——afarmerandsuchlike，butthenamesIdon’tknow。’
Thevoicesdiedaway，andtheheadsandshouldersofthemendiminishedtowardsthecliff，anddroppedoutofsight。
’MydarlinghasbeentemptedtobuyasharebythatunbelieverOwlett，’groanedtheminister，hishonestaffectionforLizzyhavingquickenedtoitsintensestpointduringthesemomentsofrisktoherpersonandname。’That’swhyshe’shere，’hesaidtohimself。’O，itwillbetheruinofher！’
HisperturbationwasinterruptedbythesuddenburstingoutofabrightandincreasinglightfromthespotwhereLizzywasinhiding。
Afewsecondslater，andbeforeithadreachedtheheightofablaze，heheardherrushpasthimdownthehollowlikeastonefromasling，inthedirectionofhome。Thelightnowflaredhighandwide，andshoweditspositionclearly。Shehadkindledaboughoffurzeandstuckitintothebushunderwhichshehadbeencrouching；
thewindfannedtheflame，whichcrackledfiercely，andthreatenedtoconsumethebushaswellasthebough。Stockdalepausedjustlongenoughtonoticethusmuch，andthenfollowedrapidlytheroutetakenbytheyoungwoman。Hisintentionwastoovertakeher，andrevealhimselfasafriend；butrunashewouldhecouldseenothingofher。ThusheflewacrosstheopencountryaboutHolworth，twistinghislegsandanklesinunexpectedfissuresanddescents，till，oncomingtothegatebetweenthedownsandtheroad，hewasforcedtopausetogetbreath。Therewasnoaudiblemovementeitherinfrontorbehindhim，andhenowconcludedthatshehadnotoutrunhim，butthat，hearinghimatherheels，andbelievinghimoneoftheexciseparty，shehadhiddenherselfsomewhereontheway，andlethimpassby。
Hewentonatamoreleisurelypacetowardsthevillage。Onreachingthehousehefoundhissurmisetobecorrect，forthegatewasonthelatch，andthedoorunfastened，justashehadleftthem。
Stockdaleclosedthedoorbehindhim，andwaitedsilentlyinthepassage。Inabouttenminutesheheardthesamelightfootstepthathehadheardingoingout；itpausedatthegate，whichopenedandshutsoftly，andthenthedoor-latchwaslifted，andLizzycamein。
Stockdalewentforwardandsaidatonce，’Lizzy，don’tbefrightened。Ihavebeenwaitingupforyou。’
Shestarted，thoughshehadrecognizedthevoice。’ItisMr。
Stockdale，isn’tit？’shesaid。
’Yes，’heanswered，becomingangrynowthatshewassafeindoors，andnotalarmed。’AndanicegameI’vefoundyououtinto-night。
Youareinman’sclothes，andIamashamedofyou！’
Lizzycouldhardlyfindavoicetoanswerthisunexpectedreproach。
