n times, and had shed a
few tears just to make her happiness complete, the driver cracked his
whip and away we went, out through the courtyard gate, down Gracious Hill
and across London Bridge before a sleepy man could have winked his eyes.

At first we thought we were in haste, but when we got out of Southwark
and into the country, the dark green grass, the flowering hedges, the
whispering leaves of the half-fledged trees, the violets by the roadside,
and the smiling sun in the blue above, all invited us to linger. So we
told the driver to slow his pace, and we lowered every window in the
coach, there being no one in the country whose wonder and envy we cared
to arouse by a display of our glass.

There was not room in Betty's little heart for all the great flood of
happiness that had poured into it, so presently, to give it vent, she
began to sing the little French lullaby we had so often heard, whereupon
Frances and I ceased listening to the birds, and I was more thoroughly
convinced than ever before that there were at least distinct periods of
_good_ fortune in every man's life.

Before reaching Gravesend, we halted at a grassy spot near the river
bank, where we ate our dinner. When the horses had rested, we set off for
Rochester, in which place we expected to spend the night at the Maid's
Garter, a famous old inn kept by a friend of Pickerings.

I had noticed a twinkle in Pickering's eyes when he directed us to go to
this tavern, but did not understand the cause of his merriment until I
learned that by a curious old custom, a maid seeking entrance for the
first time must contribute one of her garters before being admitted. The
worst feature of the usage was that the garter must be taken off at the
door, and then and there presented to the porter, who received it on the
point of his official staff.

After entering Rochester, we went to the Maid's Garter and at once drove
into the courtyard, as the custom is with travellers intending to remain
all night.

When we left the coach and started to climb the steps to the great door,
we found the landlord and his retinue waiting to receive us. Frances was
in the lead, and when we reached the broad, flat stone in front of the
door, the head porter stepped before her, bowed, and asked humbly:--

"Is my lady maid or madam?"

Frances looked up in surprise, and he repeated his question.

"What is that to you, fellow?" asked Frances.

"It is this, my lady," returned the