But then she forcibly dismissed these recollections, feeling that that was due to her own modesty, and busied herself with her blossoms and sprays; and presently, as she set out in good earnest for the town, she strove to convince herself that there was nothing more serious in her brain than the tune of "Green-sleeves:"
"Green-sleeves, now farewell, adieu; God I pray to prosper thee; For I am still thy lover true-- Come once again and love me!"
Her light-heartedness did not last long. In the wide clear landscape a human figure suddenly appeared, and the briefest turn of her head showed her that Tom Quiney was rapidly coming toward her across the fields. For a second her heart stood still. Had he been riding home from Ludington? Or from Bidford? Was it possible that he had come over Bardon Hill, and from that height espied the two down by the river? She could not even tell whether that was possible, or what he had done with his horse, or why he had not interfered sooner, if he was bent on interfering. But she had an alarmed impression that this rapid approach of his boded trouble, and she had not long to wait before that fear was confirmed.
"Judith, who is that man?" he demanded, with a fury that was but half held in.
"I knew not," she said, coldly and slowly, "that we were on a speaking platform."
"'Tis no time to bandy words," said he; and his face was pale, for he was evidently striving to control the passion with which his whole figure seemed to quiver from head to heel. "Who is that man? I ask. Who is he, that you come here to seek him, and alone?"
"I know not by what right you put such questions to me," she said; but she was somewhat frightened.
"By what right? And you have no regard, then, for your good name?"
There was a flash in her eyes. She had been afraid; she was no longer afraid.
"My good name?" she repeated. "I thank God 'tis in none of your keeping!"
In his madness he caught her by the wrist.
"Unhand me, sir!" she exclaimed; and she threw off his grasp, while her cheeks burned with humiliation.
"Nay, I quarrel not with women," said he. "I crave your pardon. But, by God, I will get to know that man's name and purpose here if I rive it from his body!"
So he strode off in the direction that Leofric Hope had taken; and for a moment she stood quite terror-stricken and helpless, scarcely daring to think of what might happen. A murder on this fair morning? This young fellow, that was quite beside himself in his passion of jealous anger, was famed throughout the length and breadth of Warwickshire for his wrestling prowess. And the other--would he brook high words? These things flashed across her mind in one bewildering instant; and in her alarm she forgot all about her pride. She called to him,