sea..."

Even as he uttered it, he happened to glance toward the "mission-
pew"--a square pew rather behind the pulpit: Margaret no longer
there.

A paleness as of very death--then a dreadful wrath reddened his dark
face.

He seized his hunting-crop; and, without a word, sped bent and
thievish down the steps--and was gone.

Upon which Loveday in a middle pew, perceiving here something
sinister, like a still wind flew to a back door, before ever the
amazement of the people had given place to a flutter like leafage;
and running fast, he came up with Hogarth by a stile twenty yards
behind the chapel, touched his shoulder.

"To the devil with you...!" shouted Hogarth, running still, and
there Loveday stood.

Margaret, meantime, was hurrying toward the towing-path, while
Richard, in a direction at right angles to hers, was pelting toward
that spot terrible to him--the elm.

At the moment when he entered the deep darkness of the beeches, he
heard what sounded like a pistol-shot, rain now falling drop by
drop, and through the forest with an uplifting whoop, like batsmen,
swooped the tomboy winds.