Is it likely he would run away with her ?" "I am sure I do not know," replied Patience, "but he was desperately in love, that's certain; and when people are in love, I am told they do very strange and unaccountable things.

Perhaps he may have carried her off against her will." "Very likely," rejoined Blaize.

"I thought I heard a scream, and should have called out at the moment, but a rufus stuck in my throat and prevented me." "Where is the person who says he intercepted them ?" asked Bloundel.
"In the yard," answered Blaize.
"Bid him come hither," rejoined his master.

"Stay, I will go to him myself." With this, the whole party, including old Josyna and Stephen--the two boys and little Christiana not having been disturbed--proceeded to the yard, where they found Pillichody in his watchman's dress, who related his story more circumstantially than before.
"I don't believe a word of it," cried Mrs.Bloundel; "and I will stake my life it is one of the Earl of Rochester's tricks." "Were I assured that such was the case," said the grocer, in a stern whisper to his wife, "I would stir no further in the matter.

My threat to Amabel was not an idle one." "I may be mistaken," returned Mrs.Bloundel, almost at her wit's end with anxiety.