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myself the last of the party； the postilion suddenly stopped short；
and looked about him。 'Why do you stop？' said I。 'I don't wish to
offend you；' said the man； 'but this seems to be a strange place
you are leading me into； I hope you and the young gentlewoman； as
you call her； don't mean me any harm … you seemed in a great hurry
to bring me here。' 'We wished to get you out of the rain；' said I；
'and ourselves too； that is； if we can； which I rather doubt； for
the canvas of a tent is slight shelter in such a rain； but what
harm should we wish to do you？' 'You may think I have money；' said
the man； 'and I have some； but only thirty shillings； and for a sum
like that it would be hardly worth while to … ' 'Would it not？'
said I； 'thirty shillings； after all； are thirty shillings； and for
what I know； half a dozen throats may have been cut in this place
for that sum at the rate of five shillings each； moreover； there
are the horses； which would serve to establish this young
gentlewoman and myself in housekeeping； provided we were thinking
of such a thing。' 'Then I suppose I have fallen into pretty
hands；' said the man； putting himself in a posture of defence； 'but
I'll show no craven heart； and if you attempt to lay hands on me；
I'll try to pay you in your own coin。 I'm rather lamed in the leg；
but I can still use my fists； so come on； both of you； man and
woman； if woman this be； though she looks more like a grenadier。'
'Let me hear no more of this nonsense；' said Belle； 'if you are
afraid； you can go back to your chaise … we only seek to do you a
kindness。'
'Why； he was just now talking of cutting throats；' said the man。
'You brought it on yourself；' said Belle； 'you suspected us； and he
wished to pass a joke upon you； he would not hurt a hair of your
head； were your coach laden with gold； nor would I。' 'Well；' said
the man； 'I was wrong … here's my hand to both of you；' shaking us
by the hands； 'I'll go with you where you please； but I thought
this a strange lonesome place； though I ought not much to mind
strange lonesome places； having been in plenty of such when I was a
servant in Italy； without coming to any harm … come； let us move
on； for 'tis a shame to keep you two in the rain。'
So we descended the path which led into the depths of the dingle；
at the bottom I conducted the postilion to my tent； which； though
the rain dripped and trickled through it； afforded some shelter；
there I bade him sit down on the log of wood； whilst I placed
myself as usual on my stone。 Belle in the meantime had repaired to
her own place of abode。 After a little time； I produced a bottle
of the cordial of which I have previously had occasion to speak；
and made my guest take a considerable draught。 I then offered him
some； bread and cheese； which he accepted with thanks。 In about an
hour the rain had much abated： 'What do you now propose to do？'
said I。 'I scarcely know；' said the man； 'I suppose I must
endeavour to put on the wheel with your help。' 'How far are you
from your home？' I demanded。 'Upwards of thirty miles；' said the
man； 'my master keeps an inn on the great north road； and from
thence I started early this morning with a family； which I conveyed
across the country to a hall at some distance from here。 On my
return I was beset by the thunderstorm； which frightened the
horses； who dragged the chaise off the road to the field above； and
overset it as you saw。 I had proposed to pass the night at an inn
about twelve miles from here on my way back； though how I am to get
there to…night I scarcely know； even if we can put on the wheel；
for； to tell you the truth； I am shaken by my fall； and the
smoulder and smoke of that fireball have rather bewildered my head；
I am； moreover； not much acquainted with the way。
'The best thing you can do；' said I； 'is to pass the night here； I
will presently light a fire； and endeavour to make you comfortable
… in the morning we will see to your wheel。' 'Well；' said the man；
'I shall be glad to pass the night here； provided I do not intrude；
but I must see to the horses。' Thereupon I conducted the man to
the place where the horses were tied。 'The trees drip very much
upon them；' said the man； 'and it will not do for them to remain
here all night； they will be better out on the field picking the
grass； but first of all they must have a good feed of corn。'
Thereupon he went to his chaise； from which he presently brought
two small bags； partly filled with corn … into them he inserted the
mouths of the horses； tying them over their heads。 'Here we will
leave them for a time；' said the man； 'when I think they have had
enough； I will come back； tie their fore…legs； and let them pick
about。'
CHAPTER XCVII
Fire of charcoal … The new…comer … No wonder！ … Not a blacksmith …
A love affair … Gretna Green … A cool thousand … Family estates …
Borough interest … Grand education … Let us hear … Already
quarrelling … Honourable parents … Most heroically … Not common
people … Fresh charcoal。
IT might be about ten o'clock at night。 Belle； the postilion； and
myself； sat just within the tent； by a fire of charcoal which I had
kindled in the chafing…pan。 The man had removed the harness from
his horses； and； after tethering their legs； had left them for the
night in the field above to regale themselves on what grass they
could find。 The rain had long since entirely ceased； and the moon
and stars shone bright in the firmament； up to which； putting aside
the canvas； I occasionally looked from the depths of the dingle。
Large drops of water； however； falling now and then upon the tent
from the neighbouring trees； would have served； could we have
forgotten it； to remind us of the recent storm； and also a certain
chilliness in the atmosphere； unusual to the season； proceeding
from the moisture with which the ground was saturated； yet these
circumstances only served to make our party enjoy the charcoal fire
the more。 There we sat bending over it： Belle； with her long
beautiful hair streaming over her magnificent shoulders； the
postilion smoking his pipe； in his shirt…sleeves and waistcoat；
having flung aside his greatcoat； which had sustained a thorough
wetting； and I without my wagoner's slop； of which； it being in the
same plight； I had also divested myself。
The new…comer was a well…made fellow of about thirty； with an open
and agreeable countenance。 I found him very well informed for a
man in his station； and with some pretensions to humour。 After we
had discoursed for some time on indifferent subjects； the
postilion； who had exhausted his pipe； took it from his mouth； and；
knocking out the ashes upon the ground； exclaimed； 'I little
thought； when I got up in the morning； that I should spend the
night in such agreeable company； and after such a fright。'
'Well；' said I； 'I am glad that your opinion of us has improved； it
is not long since you seemed to hold us in rather a suspicious
light。'
'And no wonder；' said the man； 'seeing the place you were taking me
to！ I was not a little； but very much afraid of ye both； and so I
continued for some time； though； not to show a craven heart； I
pretended to be quite satisfied； but I see I was altogether
mistaken about ye。 I thought you vagrant gypsy folks and trampers；
but now … '
'Vagrant gypsy folks and trampers；' said I； 'and what are we but
people of that stamp？'
'Oh；' said the postilion； 'if you wish to be thought such； I am far
too civil a person to contradict you； especially after your
kindness to me； but … '
'But！' said I； 'what do you mean by but？ I would have you to know
that I am proud of being a travelling blacksmith； look at these
donkey…shoes； I finished them this day。'
The postilion took the shoes and examined them。 'So you made these
shoes？' he cried at last。
'To be sure I did； do you doubt it？'
'Not in the least；' said the man。
'Ah！ ah！' said I； 'I thought I should bring you back to your
original opinion。 I am； then； a vagrant gypsy body； a tramper； a
wandering blacksmith。'
'Not a blacksmith； whatever else you may be；' said the postilion；
laughing。
'Then how do you account for my making those shoes？'
'By your not being a blacksmith；' said the postilion； 'no
blacksmith would have made shoes in that manner。 Besides； what did
you mean just now by saying you had finished these shoes to…day？ A
real blacksmith would have flung off three or four sets of donkey…
shoes in one morning； but you； I will be sworn； have been hammering
at these for days； and they do you credit … but why？ … because you
are no blacksmith； no； friend； your shoes may do for this young
gentlewoman's animal； but I shouldn't like to have my horses shod
by