from what day?"

"Saturday," said Sim; "that's to say, a week come Saturday next."

"And this is Tuesday; ten full days between," said Ralph, walking with
drooping head across the room; "I must leave immediately for the
North. Heigh!" opening a window, and hailing the ostler who at the
moment went past, "when does your next coach start for the North?"

"At nine o'clock, sir."

"Nine to-night? So late? Have you nothing before--no wagon--nothing?"

"Nothing before, sir; 'cept--leastways--no, nothing before. Ye see, it
waits for the coach from Lancaster, and takes on its passengers."

"John, John," cried the landlady, who had overheard the conversation
from a neighboring window, "mayhap the gentleman would like to take a
pair of horses a stage or two an he's in a hurry."

"Have you a horse that can cover thirty miles to-day?" said Ralph.

"That we have, yer honor, and mair ner ya horse."

"Where will the coach be at six to-morrow?"

"At Penrith, I reckon," said the ostler, lifting his cap, and
scratching his head with the air of one who was a good deal uncertain
alike of his arithmetic and his geography.

"How long do they reckon the whole journey?"

"Twelve hours, I've heeard--that's if nothing hinders; weather, nor
the like."

"Get your horse ready at once, my lad, and then take me to your
landlady."

"You'll not leave me behind, Ralph," said Sim when Ralph had shut back
the casement.

"You're very weak, old friend; it will be best for you to sleep here
to-day, and take to-night's Carlisle coach as far back as Mardale. It
will be early morning when the coach gets there, and at daybreak you
can walk over the Stye Pass to Shoulthwaite."

"I dare not, I dare not; no, no, don't leave me here." Sim's
importunity was irresistible, and Ralph yielded more out of pity than
by persuasion. A second horse was ordered, and in less than half an
hour the travellers, fortified by a meal, were riding side by side on
the high road from Kendal to the North.

Sim was not yet so far recovered from his exhaustion but that the
exertion of riding--at any time a serious undertaking to him--was
quick in producing symptoms of collapse. But he held on to his purpose
of accompanying Ralph on his northward journey with a tenacity which
was unshaken either by his companion's glances of solicitude or yet by
the broad mouthed merriment of the rustics, who obviously found it
amusing to watch the contortions of an ill-graced, weak, an