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expanse； slightly diversified； of the broad red face opposite。
The stout woman held her baby as if it were a bundle； and stared
straight before her。 As far as Van Berg could observe； not a trace
of an idea or a change of expression flitted across the wide area
of her sultry visage； and he found himself speculating as to whether
the minds of these two women differed as greatly as their outward
appearance。 Indeed he questioned whether one had any more mind
than the other； and was inclined to think that despite their widely
separated spheres of life they were equally dwarfed。
While he was thus amusing himself with the contrasts； physical
and metaphysical； which the two passengers opposite him presented；
the stout woman suddenly looked out of the window at her side； and
then； in a tone that would startle the quietest nerves； shouted to
the driver：
〃Hold on！〃
Miss Mayhew half rose from her seat and looked around with something
like dismay； but as she only encountered Van Berg's slightly humorous
expression； she colored more deeply than before； and recalled her
eyes to the farther angle of the stage with a fixedness and rigidity
as great as if it had contained the head of Medusa。
Meantime the driver drew up to a small cottage by the road…side；
and scrambled down from his seat that he might assist the stout
woman with her accumulation of bundles。 She handed him out the
baby； preferring to look after the more precious parcels herself。
Van Berg politely held the door open for her； but just as she was
squeezing through the stage entrance with her arms full and had her
foot on the last step； her cottage door flew open with something
to the effect of an explosion； and out burst three or four children
with a perfect din of cries and shouts。 Two vociferous dogs joined
in the sudden uproar； the hitherto drowsy horses started as if a
bomb…shell had dropped under their noses； and speedily broke into
a mad gallop； leaving the stout woman prostrate upon her bundles
in the road； and the driver helplessly holding her baby。
Miss Mayhew's cold rigidity vanished at once。 Indeed dignity was
impossible in the swaying； bounding vehicle。 There was a momentary
effort to ignore her companion； and then terror overcame all
scruples。 Turning her white face towards him； she exclaimed：
〃Are we not in great danger？〃
〃I admit I would rather be in my chair on Mr。 Burleigh's piazza。
With your permission； I will come to your end of the stage and
speak to the horses through the open window。〃
〃Oh； comedo anything under heaven to stop these horrid beasts。〃
Van Berg edged his way up a little past Miss Mayhew； and began
speaking to the frightened horses in firm； quiet tones。 At first
they paid no heed to him； and as the stage made a sudden and
desperate lurch； the young lady commenced to scream。
〃If you do that you will insure the breaking of both our necks；〃
said Van Berg； sharply。 〃If you will keep quiet I think I can
stop them。 See； we have quite a stretch of level road beyond us；
before we come to a hill。 Give me a chance to quiet them。〃
The terror…stricken girl kept still for a moment； and then started
up； saying
〃I shall spring out。〃
〃No； Miss Mayhew； you must not do that；〃 said Van Berg； decidedly。
〃You must be greatly injured； and you would with almost certainty
be disfigured for life if you sprang out upon the stony road。 You
could not help falling on your face。〃
〃Oh； horrible！〃 she exclaimed。
At the next heavy lurch of the stage she half…rose again to carry
out her rash purpose； but the artist seized her hand and held her
in her place； at the same time speaking kindly and firmly to the
horses。 They now began to heed his voice； and to recover from
their panic。
〃See； Miss Mayhew；〃 he said； 〃you have only to control yourself a
few moments longer； and our danger is over。〃
〃Oh； do stop them； quick；〃 she gasped； clinging to his hand as if
he were her only hope； 〃and I'll never forget your kindoh； merciful
heaven！〃
At this favorable moment； when the horses were fast coming under
control； a spiteful cur came tearing out after them； renewing their
panic with tenfold intensity。 As the dog barked on one side they
sheered off on the other； until they plunged down the side of the
road。 The stage was nearly overturned； and then it stopped with
a sudden and heavy thump。 Miss Mayhew was precipitated into Mr。
Van Berg's arms； and she clung to him for a moment in a paroxysm of
terror。 His wits had not so far deserted him but that he perceived
that the stage had struck against a tree； that the horses had broken
away； and that he and his companion were perfectly safe。 If the
whole truth must be told； it cannot be said that he endured the
young lady's embrace with only cold and stoical philosophy。 He
found it wholly novel and not a painful experience。 Indeed he was
conscious of a temptation to delay the information of their escape；
but a second's thought taught him that he must at once employ all
his tact in the delicate and difficult task of reconciling the
frightened girl to herself and her own conduct； otherwise her pride；
and also her sense of delicacy； would now receive a new and far
deeper wound； and a more hopeless estrangement follow。 He therefore
promptly lifted her up； and placed her limp form on the opposite
seat。
〃I assure you we are now perfectly safe； Miss Mayhew；〃 he said；
〃and let me congratulate you that your self…control prevented you
from leaving the stage； for if you had done so you would undoubtedly
have been greatly injured。〃
〃Wherewhere arethe horses？〃 she faltered。
〃I really do not know！ They have disappeared。 The stage struck
a tree； and the brutes broke away。 They will probably gallop home
to the alarm and excitement of every one about the hotel。 Pray
compose yourself。 The house is not far away； and we can soon reach
it if you are not very much hurt。〃
〃Are you sure the danger is all over？〃
〃Yes； this is now not the slightest chance of a tragedy。〃
There must have been a faint twinkle in his eye； for she exclaimed；
passionately：
〃The whole thing has been a comedy to you； and I half believe you
brought it all about to annoy me。〃
〃You do me great injustice； Miss Mayhew；〃 said Van Berg； warmly。
〃Here we are sitting in this horrid old stage by the roadside；〃
she resumed； in tones of strong vexation。 〃Was there ever anything
more absurd and ridiculous than it has all been！ I am mortified
beyond expression； and suppose I shall never hear the last of it；〃
and she burst into a hysterical passion of tears。
〃Miss Mayhew；〃 said Van Berg hastily； 〃you certainly must realize
that we have passed through very great peril together； and if you
think me capable of saying a word about this episode that is not
to your credit； you were never more mistaken in your life。〃
At this assurance she bec