eep serious tone.

"Pray proceed," said I; "I dare say you mean no offence."

"None in the world," said the postillion; "all I was going to say was
that you agreed to run away together, you from college, and she from
boarding-school. Well, there's nothing to be ashamed of in a matter like
that, such things are done every day by young folks in high life."

"Are you offended?" said I to Belle.

Belle made no answer; but, placing her elbows on her knees buried her
face in her hands.

"So we ran away together?" said I.

"Ay, ay," said the postillion, "to Gretna Green, though I can't say that
I drove ye, though I have driven many a pair."

"And from Gretna Green we came here?"

"I'll be bound you did," said the man, "till you could arrange matters at
home."

"And the horse-shoes?" said I.

"The donkey-shoes, you mean," answered the postillion; "why, I suppose
you persuaded the blacksmith who married you to give you, before you
left, a few lessons in his trade."

"And we intend to stay here till we have arranged matters at home?"

"Ay, ay," said the postillion, "till the old people are pacified and they
send you letters directed to the next post town, to be left till called
for, beginning with, 'Dear children,' and enclosing you each a cheque for
one hundred pounds, when you will leave this place, and go home in a
coach like gentlefolks, to visit your governors; I should like nothing
better than to have the driving of you: and then there will be a grand
meeting of the two families, and after a few reproaches, the old people
will agree to do something handsome for the poor thoughtless things; so
you will have a genteel house taken for you, and an annuity allowed you.
You won't get much the first year, five hundred at the most, in order
that the old folks may let you feel that they are not altogether
satisfied with you, and that you are yet entirely in their power; but the
second, if you don't get a cool thousand, may I catch cold, especially
should young madam here present a son and heir for the old people to
fondle, destined one day to become sole heir of the two illustrious
houses, and then all the grand folks in the neighbourhood, who have,
bless their prudent hearts! kept rather aloof from you till then, for
fear you should want anything from them--I say, all the carriage people
in the neighbourhood, when they see how swimmingly matters are going on,
will come in shoals to visit you."

"Really," said I, "y