I saw by the oscillatory motion of his
head, though his arms and whiphand were perfectly correct, that he was
inebriated. It was his first occasion of meeting fellow-coachmen in full
dress, and the occasion had proved too much for him. My hand, however,
was on the coach door, when I heard Mr. Uxbridge say, at my elbow,

"It is not safe for you."

"Oh, Sir, it is in the programme that I ride home from the concert." And
I prepared to step in.

"I shall sit on the box, then."

"But your nieces?"

"They are walking home, squired by a younger knight."

Aunt Eliza would say, I thought, "Needs must when a lawyer drives"; and
I concluded to allow him to have his way, telling him that he was taking
a great deal of trouble. He thought it would be less if he were allowed
to sit inside; both ways were unsafe.

Nothing happened. William drove well from habit; but James was obliged
to assist him to dismount. Mr. Uxbridge waited a moment at the door,
and so there was quite a little sensation, which spread its ripples
till Aunt Eliza was reached. She sent for William, whose only excuse was
"dampness."

"Uxbridge knew my carriage, of course," she said, with a complacent
voice. "He knew me," I replied.

"You do not look like the Huells."

"I look precisely like the young woman to whom he was introduced by Mr.
Van Horn."

"Oh ho!"

"He thought it unsafe for me to come alone under William's charge."

"Ah ha!"

No more was said on the subject of his coming home with me. Aunt Eliza
had several fits of musing in the course of the evening while I read
aloud to her, which had no connection with the subject of the book. As
I put it down she said that it would be well for me to go to church the
next day. I acquiesced, but remarked that my piety would not require the
carriage, and that I preferred to walk. Besides, it would be well for
William and James to attend divine service. She could not spare James,
and thought William had better clean the harness, by way of penance.

The morning proved to be warm and sunny. I donned a muslin dress of home
manufacture and my own bonnet, and started for church. I had walked but
a few paces when the consciousness of being _free_ and _alone_ struck
me. I halted, looked about me, and concluded that I would not go to
church, but walk into the fields. I had no knowledge of the whereabouts
of the fields; but I walked straight forward, and after a while came
upon some barren fields, cropping with