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a vast deal more there was for him to learn； the period of these
lessons seemed to unroll before me vast as eternity； and I saw
myself a teacher of a hundred； and Rowley a pupil of ninety； still
hammering on the rudiments！ The wretched boy； I should say； was
quite unspoiled by the inevitable familiarities of the journey。 He
turned out at each stage the pink of serving…lads； deft； civil；
prompt； attentive； touching his hat like an automaton； raising the
status of Mr。 Ramornie in the eyes of all the inn by his smiling
service； and seeming capable of anything in the world but the one
thing I had chosen … learning French！
CHAPTER XXIII … THE ADVENTURE OF THE RUNAWAY COUPLE
THE country had for some time back been changing in character。 By
a thousand indications I could judge that I was again drawing near
to Scotland。 I saw it written in the face of the hills； in the
growth of the trees； and in the glint of the waterbrooks that kept
the high…road company。 It might have occurred to me； also； that I
was； at the same time； approaching a place of some fame in Britain
… Gretna Green。 Over these same leagues of road … which Rowley and
I now traversed in the claret…coloured chaise； to the note of the
flageolet and the French lesson … how many pairs of lovers had gone
bowling northwards to the music of sixteen scampering horseshoes；
and how many irate persons； parents； uncles； guardians； evicted
rivals； had come tearing after； clapping the frequent red face to
the chaise…window； lavishly shedding their gold about the post…
houses； sedulously loading and re…loading； as they went； their
avenging pistols！ But I doubt if I had thought of it at all；
before a wayside hazard swept me into the thick of an adventure of
this nature； and I found myself playing providence with other
people's lives； to my own admiration at the moment … and
subsequently to my own brief but passionate regret。
At rather an ugly corner of an uphill reach I came on the wreck of
a chaise lying on one side in the ditch； a man and a woman in
animated discourse in the middle of the road； and the two
postillions； each with his pair of horses； looking on and laughing
from the saddle。
'Morning breezes！ here's a smash！' cried Rowley； pocketing his
flageolet in the middle of the TIGHT LITTLE ISLAND。
I was perhaps more conscious of the moral smash than the physical …
more alive to broken hearts than to broken chaises； for； as plain
as the sun at morning； there was a screw loose in this runaway
match。 It is always a bad sign when the lower classes laugh： their
taste in humour is both poor and sinister； and for a man； running
the posts with four horses； presumably with open pockets； and in
the company of the most entrancing little creature conceivable； to
have come down so far as to be laughed at by his own postillions；
was only to be explained on the double hypothesis； that he was a
fool and no gentleman。
I have said they were man and woman。 I should have said man and
child。 She was certainly not more than seventeen； pretty as an
angel； just plump enough to damn a saint； and dressed in various
shades of blue； from her stockings to her saucy cap； in a kind of
taking gamut； the top note of which she flung me in a beam from her
too appreciative eye。 There was no doubt about the case： I saw it
all。 From a boarding…school； a black…board； a piano； and
Clementi's SONATINAS； the child had made a rash adventure upon life
in the company of a half…bred hawbuck； and she was already not only
regretting it； but expressing her regret with point and pungency。
As I alighted they both paused with that unmistakable air of being
interrupted in a scene。 I uncovered to the lady and placed my
services at their disposal。
It was the man who answered。 'There's no use in shamming； sir；'
said he。 'This lady and I have run away； and her father's after
us： road to Gretna； sir。 And here have these nincompoops spilt us
in the ditch and smashed the chaise！'
'Very provoking；' said I。
'I don't know when I've been so provoked！' cried he； with a glance
down the road； of mortal terror。
'The father is no doubt very much incensed？' I pursued civilly。
'O God！' cried the hawbuck。 'In short； you see； we must get out of
this。 And I'll tell you what … it may seem cool； but necessity has
no law … if you would lend us your chaise to the next post…house；
it would be the very thing； sir。'
'I confess it seems cool；' I replied。
'What's that you say； sir？' he snapped。
'I was agreeing with you；' said I。 'Yes； it does seem cool； and
what is more to the point； it seems unnecessary。 This thing can be
arranged in a more satisfactory manner otherwise； I think。 You can
doubtless ride？'
This opened a door on the matter of their previous dispute； and the
fellow appeared life…sized in his true colours。 'That's what I've
been telling her： that； damn her！ she must ride！' he broke out。
'And if the gentleman's of the same mind； why； damme； you shall！'
As he said so； he made a snatch at her wrist； which she evaded with
horror。
I stepped between them。
'No； sir；' said I； 'the lady shall not。'
He turned on me raging。 'And who are you to interfere？' he roared。
'There is here no question of who I am；' I replied。 'I may be the
devil or the Archbishop of Canterbury for what you know； or need
know。 The point is that I can help you … it appears that nobody
else can； and I will tell you how I propose to do it。 I will give
the lady a seat in my chaise； if you will return the compliment by
allowing my servant to ride one of your horses。'
I thought he would have sprung at my throat。
'You have always the alternative before you： to wait here for the
arrival of papa；' I added。
And that settled him。 He cast another haggard look down the road；
and capitulated。
'I am sure； sir； the lady is very much obliged to you；' he said；
with an ill grace。
I gave her my hand； she mounted like a bird into the chaise；
Rowley； grinning from ear to ear； closed the door behind us； the
two impudent rascals of post…boys cheered and laughed aloud as we
drove off； and my own postillion urged his horses at once into a
rattling trot。 It was plain I was supposed by all to have done a
very dashing act； and ravished the bride from the ravisher。
In the meantime I stole a look at the little lady。 She was in a
state of pitiable discomposure； and her arms shook on her lap in
her black lace mittens。
'Madam … ' I began。
And she； in the same moment； finding her voice： 'O； what you must
think of me！'
'Madam；' said I； 'what must any gentleman think when he sees youth；
beauty and innocence in distress？ I wish I could tell you that I
was old enough to be your father； I think we must give that up；' I
continued； with a smile。