who I am," I replied. "I may be the devil
or the Archbishop of Canterbury for what you know, or need know. The
point is that I can help you--it appears that nobody else can: and I
will tell you how I propose to do it. I will give the lady a seat in my
chaise, if you will return the compliment by allowing my servant to ride
one of your horses."

I thought he would have sprung at my throat.

"You have always the alternative before you: to wait here for the
arrival of papa," I added.

And that settled him. He cast another haggard look down the road, and
capitulated.

"I am sure, sir, the lady is very much obliged to you," he said, with an
ill grace.

I gave her my hand; she mounted like a bird into the chaise; Rowley,
grinning from ear to ear, closed the door behind us; the two impudent
rascals of post-boys cheered and laughed aloud as we drove off; and my
own postillion urged his horses at once into a rattling trot. It was
plain I was supposed by all to have done a very dashing act, and
ravished the bride from the ravisher.

In the meantime I stole a look at the little lady. She was in a state of
pitiable discomposure, and her arms shook on her lap in her black lace
mittens.

"Madam----" I began.

And she, in the same moment, finding her voice: "O, what must you think
of me!"

"Madam," said I, "what must any gentleman think when he sees youth,
beauty, and innocence in distress? I wish I could tell you that I was
old enough to be your father; I think we must give that up," I
continued, with a smile. "But I will tell you something about myself
which ought to do as well, and to set that little heart at rest in my
society. I am a lover. May I say it of myself--for I am not quite used
to all the niceties of English--that I am a true lover? There is one
whom I admire, adore, obey; she is no less good than she is beautiful;
if she were here, she would take you to her arms: conceive that she has
sent me--that she has said to me, 'Go, be her knight!'"

"O, I know she must be sweet, I know she must be worthy of you!" cried
the little lady. "She would never forget female decorum--nor make the
terrible _erratum_ I've done!"

And at this she lifted up her voice and wept.

This did not forward matters: it was in vain that I begged her to be
more composed and to tell me a plain, consecutive tale of her
misadventures; but she continued instead to pour forth the most
extraordinary mixture of the correct school miss and t