on which Miss Tuggs was
mounted, expressed his delight at this humorous proceeding by firmly
planting his fore-feet against the ground, and kicking up his hind-legs
in a very agile, but somewhat alarming manner.

This abrupt termination to the rapidity of the ride, naturally occasioned
some confusion. Both the ladies indulged in vehement screaming for
several minutes; and Mr. Cymon Tuggs, besides sustaining intense bodily
pain, had the additional mental anguish of witnessing their distressing
situation, without having the power to rescue them, by reason of his leg
being firmly screwed in between the animal and the wall. The efforts of
the boys, however, assisted by the ingenious expedient of twisting the
tail of the most rebellious donkey, restored order in a much shorter time
than could have reasonably been expected, and the little party jogged
slowly on together.

'Now let 'em walk,' said Mr. Cymon Tuggs. 'It's cruel to overdrive 'em.'

'Werry well, sir,' replied the boy, with a grin at his companion, as if
he understood Mr. Cymon to mean that the cruelty applied less to the
animals than to their riders.

'What a lovely day, dear!' said Charlotta.

'Charming; enchanting, dear!' responded Mrs. Captain Waters.

'What a beautiful prospect, Mr. Tuggs!'

Cymon looked full in Belinda's face, as he responded--'Beautiful,
indeed!' The lady cast down her eyes, and suffered the animal she was
riding to fall a little back. Cymon Tuggs instinctively did the same.

There was a brief silence, broken only by a sigh from Mr. Cymon Tuggs.

'Mr. Cymon,' said the lady suddenly, in a low tone, 'Mr. Cymon--I am
another's.'

Mr. Cymon expressed his perfect concurrence in a statement which it was
impossible to controvert.

'If I had not been--' resumed Belinda; and there she stopped.

'What--what?' said Mr. Cymon earnestly. 'Do not torture me. What would
you say?'

'If I had not been'--continued Mrs. Captain Waters--'if, in earlier life,
it had been my fate to have known, and been beloved by, a noble youth--a
kindred soul--a congenial spirit--one capable of feeling and appreciating
the sentiments which--'

'Heavens! what do I hear?' exclaimed Mr. Cymon Tuggs. 'Is it possible!
can I believe my--Come up!' (This last unsentimental parenthesis was
addressed to the donkey, who, with his head between his fore-legs,
appeared to be examining the state of his shoes with great anxiety.)

'Hi--hi--hi,' said the boys behind.