. They allowed Charles to come out,
and lead the horse away round the corner to the stable. They stood
stock-still, gaping and staring, while Hope invited Mr Rowland in, and
Mr Rowland declined entering; while that gentleman shook hands with the
ladies, spoke with Mr Enderby, mounted Mr Enderby's horse, and rode
off. They saw Philip turn slowly into the house with the family party,
and the door closed, before they thought of giving another groan.

"Well, love!" said Hester, looking anxiously at her husband.

"You made good battle," said Philip.

"Yes, I had a pretty hard fight of it, from the toll-bar hither," said
Hope, stretching vigorously. "They wrenched my whip out of my hand--
five hands to one; but then I had my umbrella. I broke it to pieces
with rapping their knuckles."

"Which are as hard as their pates," observed Philip. "What are we to do
next?"

"If they do not disperse presently, I will go and speak to them; but I
dare say they have had enough of the show for to-day: Mrs Plumstead
must have satisfied them with oratory. That poor woman's face and voice
will haunt me when I have forgotten all the rest. One had almost rather
have her against one, than that such screaming should be on one's
behalf. Now, my love, how has the morning gone with you?"

"Very pleasantly, I would answer for it from her looks," said Philip.
And Hester's face was certainly full of the beauty of happiness.

"Thank God, the morning is over! That is all I have to say about it,"
replied she.

"Surely those people outside are growing more noisy!" observed Margaret.

"I must change my clothes, in case of its being necessary to speak to
them," said Hope. "I look too like a victim at present."

While he and Hester were out of the room, Philip told Margaret how her
brother had been treated at the almshouses. He had narrowly escaped
being pulled from his horse and thrown into the pond. He had been
followed half-way to Deerbrook by a crowd, throwing stones and
shrieking; and just when he had got beyond their reach, he had met
Philip, and learned that he had the same thing to go through, at the
other extremity of his journey. Finding that both his doors were
surrounded, he had judged it best to make for the front, coming home as
nearly as possible in his usual manner. He had kept his temper
admirably, joking with his detainers, while dealing his blows upon their
hands.

"Where will all this end?" cried Margaret.

"Wi