The recollection of this softened a little the cutting disappointment of Grimes, as he thought himself secure of putting an end, by its assistance, to the career of Emily; nor was it very probable that any body would appear to interrupt his designs, in such a place, and in the dead and silence of the night.
By the most extraordinary accident, however, they found a man on horseback in wait at this gate.

"Help, help!" exclaimed the affrighted Emily; "thieves! murder! help!" The man was Mr.Falkland.Grimes knew his voice; and therefore, though he attempted a sort of sullen resistance, it was feebly made.

Two other men, whom, by reason of the darkness, he had not at first seen, and who were Mr.Falkland's servants, hearing the bustle of the rencounter, and alarmed for the safety of their master, rode up; and then Grimes, disappointed at the loss of his gratification, and admonished by conscious guilt, shrunk from farther parley, and rode off in silence.
It may seem strange that Mr.Falkland should thus a second time have been the saviour of Miss Melville, and that under circumstances the most unexpected and singular.

But in this instance it is easily to be accounted for.

He had heard of a man who lurked about this wood for robbery or some other bad design, and that it was conjectured this man was Hawkins, another of the victims of Mr.Tyrrel's rural tyranny, whom I shall immediately have occasion to introduce.