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was old enough to be your father； I think we must give that up；' I
continued； with a smile。 'But I will tell you something about
myself which ought to do as well； and to set that little heart at
rest in my society。 I am a lover。 May I say it of myself … for I
am not quite used to all the niceties of English … that I am a true
lover？ There is one whom I admire； adore； obey； she is no less
good than she is beautiful； if she were here； she would take you to
her arms： conceive that she has sent me … that she has said to me；
〃Go； be her knight！〃'
'O； I know she must be sweet； I know she must be worthy of you！'
cried the little lady。 'She would never forget female decorum …
nor make the terrible ERRATUM I've done！'
And at this she lifted up her voice and wept。
This did not forward matters： it was in vain that I begged her to
be more composed and to tell me a plain； consecutive tale of her
misadventures； but she continued instead to pour forth the most
extraordinary mixture of the correct school miss and the poor
untutored little piece of womanhood in a false position … of
engrafted pedantry and incoherent nature。
'I am certain it must have been judicial blindness；' she sobbed。
'I can't think how I didn't see it； but I didn't； and he isn't； is
he？ And then a curtain rose 。 。 。 O； what a moment was that！ But
I knew at once that YOU WERE； you had but to appear from your
carriage； and I knew it； O； she must be a fortunate young lady！
And I have no fear with you； none … a perfect confidence。'
'Madam；' said I； 'a gentleman。'
'That's what I mean … a gentleman；' she exclaimed。 'And he … and
that … HE isn't。 O； how shall I dare meet father！' And disclosing
to me her tear…stained face； and opening her arms with a tragic
gesture： 'And I am quite disgraced before all the young ladies； my
school…companions！' she added。
'O； not so bad as that！' I cried。 'Come； come； you exaggerate； my
dear Miss … ？ Excuse me if I am too familiar： I have not yet heard
your name。'
'My name is Dorothy Greensleeves； sir： why should I conceal it？ I
fear it will only serve to point an adage to future generations；
and I had meant so differently！ There was no young female in the
county more emulous to be thought well of than I。 And what a fall
was there！ O； dear me； what a wicked； piggish donkey of a girl I
have made of myself； to be sure！ And there is no hope！ O； Mr。 … '
And at that she paused and asked my name。
I am not writing my eulogium for the Academy； I will admit it was
unpardonably imbecile； but I told it her。 If you had been there …
and seen her； ravishingly pretty and little； a baby in years and
mind … and heard her talking like a book； with so much of
schoolroom propriety in her manner； with such an innocent despair
in the matter … you would probably have told her yours。 She
repeated it after me。
'I shall pray for you all my life；' she said。 'Every night； when I
retire to rest； the last thing I shall do is to remember you by
name。'
Presently I succeeded in winning from her her tale； which was much
what I had anticipated： a tale of a schoolhouse； a walled garden； a
fruit…tree that concealed a bench； an impudent raff posturing in
church； an exchange of flowers and vows over the garden wall； a
silly schoolmate for a confidante； a chaise and four； and the most
immediate and perfect disenchantment on the part of the little
lady。 'And there is nothing to be done！' she wailed in conclusion。
'My error is irretrievable； I am quite forced to that conclusion。
O； Monsieur de Saint…Yves！ who would have thought that I could have
been such a blind； wicked donkey！'
I should have said before … only that I really do not know when it
came in … that we had been overtaken by the two post…boys； Rowley
and Mr。 Bellamy； which was the hawbuck's name； bestriding the four
post…horses； and that these formed a sort of cavalry escort； riding
now before； now behind the chaise； and Bellamy occasionally
posturing at the window and obliging us with some of his
conversation。 He was so ill…received that I declare I was tempted
to pity him； remembering from what a height he had fallen； and how
few hours ago it was since the lady had herself fled to his arms；
all blushes and ardour。 Well； these great strokes of fortune
usually befall the unworthy； and Bellamy was now the legitimate
object of my commiseration and the ridicule of his own post…boys！
'Miss Dorothy；' said I； 'you wish to be delivered from this man？'
'O； if it were possible！' she cried。 'But not by violence。'
'Not in the least； ma'am；' I replied。 'The simplest thing in life。
We are in a civilised country； the man's a malefactor … '
'O； never！' she cried。 'Do not even dream it！ With all his
faults； I know he is not THAT。'
'Anyway； he's in the wrong in this affair … on the wrong side of
the law； call it what you please；' said I； and with that； our four
horsemen having for the moment headed us by a considerable
interval； I hailed my post…boy and inquired who was the nearest
magistrate and where he lived。 Archdeacon Clitheroe； he told me； a
prodigious dignitary； and one who lived but a lane or two back； and
at the distance of only a mile or two out of the direct road。 I
showed him the king's medallion。
'Take the lady there； and at full gallop；' I cried。
'Right； sir！ Mind yourself；' says the postillion。
And before I could have thought it possible； he had turned the
carriage to the rightabout and we were galloping south。
Our outriders were quick to remark and imitate the manoeuvre； and
came flying after us with a vast deal of indiscriminate shouting；
so that the fine； sober picture of a carriage and escort； that we
had presented but a moment back； was transformed in the twinkling
of an eye into the image of a noisy fox…chase。 The two postillions
and my own saucy rogue were； of course； disinterested actors in the
comedy； they rode for the mere sport； keeping in a body； their
mouths full of laughter； waving their hats as they came on； and
crying （as the fancy struck them） Tally…ho！' 'Stop； thief！' 'A
highwayman！ A highwayman！' It was otherguess work with Bellamy。
That gentleman no sooner observed our change of direction than he
turned his horse with so much violence that the poor animal was
almost cast upon its side； and launched her in immediate and
desperate pursuit。 As he approached I saw that his face was deadly
white and that he carried a drawn pistol in his hand。 I turned at
once to the poor little bride that was to have been； and now was
not to be； she； upon her side； deserting the other window； turned
as if to meet me。
'O； O； don't let him kill me！' she screamed。
'Never fear；' I replied。
Her face was distorted with terror。 Her hands took hold upon me
with the instinctive clutch of