Now, while I stood mazed and uncertain, I hearde a distant Clatter of Horse's Feet, on the hard Road a good Way off, and could descrie _Dick_ coming towards _Sheepscote_. _Rose_ saw him too, and commenced running towards me; Mr. _Agnew_ following with long Strides. _Rose_ drew me back into the House, and sayd, kissing me, "Dearest _Moll_, I am soe sorry; _Roger_ hath seen your Father this Morn, and he will on no Account spare you to us anie longer; and _Dick_ is coming to fetch you even now." I sayd, "Is _Father_ ill?" "Oh no," replied Mr. _Agnew_; then coming up, "He is not ill, but he is perturbed at something which has occurred; and, in Truth, soe am I.--But remember, Mistress _Milton_, remember, dear _Cousin_, that when you married, your _Father's_ Guardianship of you passed into the Hands of your Husband--your Husband's House was thenceforthe your Home; and in quitting it you committed a Fault you may yet repaire, though this offensive Act has made the Difficultie much greater."--"Oh, what has happened?" I impatientlie cried. Just then, _Dick_ comes in with his usual blunt Salutations, and then cries, "Well, _Moll_, are you ready to goe back?" "Why should I be?" I sayd, "when I am soe happy here? unless _Father_ is ill, or Mr. _Agnew_ and _Rose_ are tired of me." They both interrupted, there was nothing they soe much desired, at this present, as that I shoulde prolong my Stay. And you know, _Dick, I_ added, that _Forest Hill_ is not soe pleasant to me just now as it hath commonlie beene, by Reason of your _Oxford_ Companions. He brieflie sayd, I neede not mind that, they were coming no more to the House, _Father_ had decreed it. And you know well enough, _Moll_, that what _Father_ decrees, must be, and he hath decreed that you must come Home now; soe no more Ado, I pray you, but fetch your Cloak and Hood, and the Horses shall come round, for 'twill be late ere we reach Home. "Nay, you must dine here at all Events," sayd _Rose_; "I know, _Dick_, you love roast Pork." Soe _Dick_ relented. Soe _Rose_, turning to me, prayed me to bid _Cicely_ hasten Dinner; the which I did, tho' thinking it strange _Rose_ should not goe herself. But, as I returned, I hearde her say, Not a Word of it, dear _Dick_, at the least, till after Dinner, lest you spoil her Appetite. Soe _Dick_ sayd he shoulde goe and look after the Horses. I sayd then, brisklie, I see somewhat is the Matter--pray tell me what it is. But _Rose_ looked quite dull, and walked to the Window. Then Mr. _Agnew_ sayd, "You seem as dissatisfied to leave us, _Cousin_, as we are to lose you; and yet you are going back to _Forest Hill_--to that Home in which you will doubtlesse be happy to live all your Dayes."--"At _Forest Hill_?" I sayd, "Oh no! I hope not." "And why?" sayd he quicklie. I hung my Head, and muttered, "I hope, some Daye, to goe back to Mr. _Milton_." "And why not at once?" sayd he. I sayd, "_Father_ would not let me." "Nay, that is childish," he answered, "your Father could not hinder you if you wanted not the Mind to goe--it was your first seeming soe loth to return, that made him think you unhappie and refuse to part with you." I sayd, "And what if I were unhappie?" He paused; and knew not at the Moment what Answer to make, but shortlie replyed by another Question, "What Cause had you to be soe?" I sayd, "That was more easily askt than answered, even if there were anie Neede I shoulde answer it, or he had anie Right to ask it." He cried in an Accent of Tendernesse that still wrings my Heart to remember, "Oh, question not the Right! I only wish to make you happy. Were you not happy with Mr. _Milton_ during the Week you spent together here at _Sheepscote_?" Thereat I coulde not refrayn from bursting into Tears. _Rose_ now sprang forward; but Mr. _Agnew_ sayd, "Let her weep, let her weep, it will do her good." Then, alle at once it occurred to me that my Husband was awaiting me at Home, and I cried, "Oh, is Mr. _Milton_ at _Forest Hill_?" and felt my Heart full of Gladness. Mr. _Agnew_ answered, "Not soe, not soe, poor _Moll_:" and, looking up at him, I saw him wiping his Brow, though the Daye was soe chill. "As well tell her now," sayd he to _Rose_; and then taking my Hand, "Oh, Mrs.