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wonder at my moderation。
'What sort of clothes will you be wanting？' said she。
'The clothes of a gentleman；' said I。 'Right or wrong； I think it
is the part I am best qualified to play。 Mr。 St。 Ives （for that's
to be my name upon the journey） I conceive as rather a theatrical
figure； and his make…up should be to match。'
'And yet there is a difficulty；' said she。 'If you got coarse
clothes the fit would hardly matter。 But the clothes of a fine
gentleman … O； it is absolutely necessary that these should fit！
And above all； with your' … she paused a moment … 'to our ideas
somewhat noticeable manners。'
'Alas for my poor manners！' said I。 'But my dear friend Flora；
these little noticeabilities are just what mankind has to suffer
under。 Yourself； you see； you're very noticeable even when you
come in a crowd to visit poor prisoners in the Castle。'
I was afraid I should frighten my good angel visitant away； and
without the smallest breath of pause went on to add a few
directions as to stuffs and colours。
She opened big eyes upon me。 'O； Mr。 St。 Ives！' she cried … 'if
that is to be your name … I do not say they would not be becoming；
but for a journey； do you think they would be wise？ I am afraid' …
she gave a pretty break of laughter … 'I am afraid they would be
daft…like！'
'Well； and am I not daft？' I asked her。
'I do begin to think you are；' said she。
'There it is； then！' said I。 'I have been long enough a figure of
fun。 Can you not feel with me that perhaps the bitterest thing in
this captivity has been the clothes？ Make me a captive … bind me
with chains if you like … but let me be still myself。 You do not
know what it is to be a walking travesty … among foes；' I added
bitterly。
'O； but you are too unjust！' she cried。 'You speak as though any
one ever dreamed of laughing at you。 But no one did。 We were all
pained to the heart。 Even my aunt … though sometimes I do think
she was not quite in good taste … you should have seen her and
heard her at home！ She took so much interest。 Every patch in your
clothes made us sorry； it should have been a sister's work。'
'That is what I never had … a sister；' said I。 'But since you say
that I did not make you laugh … '
'O； Mr。 St。 Ives！ never！' she exclaimed。 'Not for one moment。 It
was all too sad。 To see a gentleman … '
'In the clothes of a harlequin； and begging？' I suggested。
'To see a gentleman in distress； and nobly supporting it；' she
said。
'And do you not understand； my fair foe；' said I； 'that even if all
were as you say … even if you had thought my travesty were becoming
… I should be only the more anxious； for my sake； for my country's
sake； and for the sake of your kindness； that you should see him
whom you have helped as God meant him to be seen？ that you should
have something to remember him by at least more characteristic than
a misfitting sulphur…yellow suit； and half a week's beard？'
'You think a great deal too much of clothes；' she said。 'I am not
that kind of girl。'
'And I am afraid I am that kind of man；' said I。 'But do not think
of me too harshly for that。 I talked just now of something to
remember by。 I have many of them myself； of these beautiful
reminders； of these keepsakes； that I cannot be parted from until I
lose memory and life。 Many of them are great things； many of them
are high virtues … charity； mercy； faith。 But some of them are
trivial enough。 Miss Flora； do you remember the day that I first
saw you； the day of the strong east wind？ Miss Flora； shall I tell
you what you wore？'
We had both risen to our feet； and she had her hand already on the
door to go。 Perhaps this attitude emboldened me to profit by the
last seconds of our interview； and it certainly rendered her escape
the more easy。
'O； you are too romantic！' she said； laughing； and with that my sun
was blown out； my enchantress had fled away； and I was again left
alone in the twilight with the lady hens。
CHAPTER IX … THREE IS COMPANY； AND FOUR NONE
THE rest of the day I slept in the corner of the hen…house upon
Flora's shawl。 Nor did I awake until a light shone suddenly in my
eyes； and starting up with a gasp （for； indeed； at the moment I
dreamed I was still swinging from the Castle battlements） I found
Ronald bending over me with a lantern。 It appeared it was past
midnight； that I had slept about sixteen hours； and that Flora had
returned her poultry to the shed and I had heard her not。 I could
not but wonder if she had stooped to look at me as I slept。 The
puritan hens now slept irremediably； and being cheered with the
promise of supper I wished them an ironical good…night； and was
lighted across the garden and noiselessly admitted to a bedroom on
the ground floor of the cottage。 There I found soap； water； razors
… offered me diffidently by my beardless host … and an outfit of
new clothes。 To be shaved again without depending on the barber of
the gaol was a source of a delicious； if a childish joy。 My hair
was sadly too long； but I was none so unwise as to make an attempt
on it myself。 And； indeed； I thought it did not wholly misbecome
me as it was； being by nature curly。 The clothes were about as
good as I expected。 The waistcoat was of toilenet； a pretty piece；
the trousers of fine kerseymere； and the coat sat extraordinarily
well。 Altogether； when I beheld this changeling in the glass； I
kissed my hand to him。
'My dear fellow；' said I； 'have you no scent？'
'Good God； no！' cried Ronald。 'What do you want with scent？'
'Capital thing on a campaign；' said I。 'But I can do without。'
I was now led； with the same precautions against noise； into the
little bow…windowed dining…room of the cottage。 The shutters were
up； the lamp guiltily turned low； the beautiful Flora greeted me in
a whisper； and when I was set down to table； the pair proceeded to
help me with precautions that might have seemed excessive in the
Ear of Dionysius。
'She sleeps up there；' observed the boy； pointing to the ceiling；
and the knowledge that I was so imminently near to the resting…
place of that gold eyeglass touched even myself with some
uneasiness。
Our excellent youth had imported from the city a meat pie； and I
was glad to find it flanked with a decanter of really admirable
wine of Oporto。 While I ate； Ronald entertained me with the news
of the city； which had naturally rung all day with our escape：
troops and mounted messengers had followed each other forth at all
hours and in all directions； but according to the last intelligence
no recapture had been made。 Opinion in town was very favourable to
us： our courage was applauded； and many professed regret that our
ultimate chance of escape should be so small。 The man who had
fallen was one Sombr