full vent in its intensity, and to
declare that she was his for ever, looked extremely foolish when she
said these words;--the more so, as they were received by Hugh and Dennis
with a loud laugh, which made her draw back, and regard him with a fixed
and earnest look.

'Miss Haredale,' said Sim, after a very awkward silence, 'I hope
you're as comfortable as circumstances will permit of. Dolly Varden,
my darling--my own, my lovely one--I hope YOU'RE pretty comfortable
likewise.'

Poor little Dolly! She saw how it was; hid her face in her hands; and
sobbed more bitterly than ever.

'You meet in me, Miss V.,' said Simon, laying his hand upon his breast,
'not a 'prentice, not a workman, not a slave, not the wictim of your
father's tyrannical behaviour, but the leader of a great people, the
captain of a noble band, in which these gentlemen are, as I may say,
corporals and serjeants. You behold in me, not a private individual, but
a public character; not a mender of locks, but a healer of the wounds of
his unhappy country. Dolly V., sweet Dolly V., for how many years have
I looked forward to this present meeting! For how many years has it been
my intention to exalt and ennoble you! I redeem it. Behold in me, your
husband. Yes, beautiful Dolly--charmer--enslaver--S. Tappertit is all
your own!'

As he said these words he advanced towards her. Dolly retreated till she
could go no farther, and then sank down upon the floor. Thinking it very
possible that this might be maiden modesty, Simon essayed to raise her;
on which Dolly, goaded to desperation, wound her hands in his hair, and
crying out amidst her tears that he was a dreadful little wretch, and
always had been, shook, and pulled, and beat him, until he was fain to
call for help, most lustily. Hugh had never admired her half so much as
at that moment.

'She's in an excited state to-night,' said Simon, as he smoothed his
rumpled feathers, 'and don't know when she's well off. Let her be by
herself till to-morrow, and that'll bring her down a little. Carry her
into the next house!'

Hugh had her in his arms directly. It might be that Mr Tappertit's heart
was really softened by her distress, or it might be that he felt it in
some degree indecorous that his intended bride should be struggling in
the grasp of another man. He commanded him, on second thoughts, to put
her down again, and looked moodily on as she flew to Miss Haredale's
side, and clinging to her dress, hid he