e on that
gratuity which should be least conspicuous--so large that nobody could
grumble, so small that nobody would be tempted to boast. My decision was
hastily and not wisely taken. The one fellow spat on his tip (so he
called it) for luck; the other, developing a sudden streak of piety,
prayed God bless me with fervour. It seemed a demonstration was brewing,
and I determined to be off at once. Bidding my own post-boy and Rowley
be in readiness for an immediate start, I reascended the terrace and
presented myself, hat in hand, before Mr. Greensleeves and the
Archdeacon.

"You will excuse me, I trust," said I. "I think shame to interrupt this
agreeable scene of family effusion, which I have been privileged in some
small degree to bring about."

And at these words the storm broke.

"Small degree! small degree, sir!" cries the father; "that shall not
pass, Mr. St. Eaves! If I've got my darling back, and none the worse for
that vagabone rascal, I know whom I have to thank. Shake hands with
me--up to the elbows, sir! A Frenchman you may be, but you're one of the
right breed, by God! And, by God, sir, you may have anything you care to
ask of me, down to Dolly's hand, by God!"

All this he roared out in a voice surprisingly powerful from so small a
person. Every word was thus audible to the servants, who had followed
them out of the house and now congregated about us on the terrace, as
well as to Rowley and the five postillions on the gravel sweep below.
The sentiments expressed were popular; some ass, whom the devil moved to
be my enemy, proposed three cheers, and they were given with a will. To
hear my own name resounding amid acclamations in the hills of
Westmorland was flattering, perhaps; but it was inconvenient at a moment
when (as I was morally persuaded) police handbills were already speeding
after me at the rate of a hundred miles a day.

Nor was that the end of it. The Archdeacon must present his compliments,
and pressed upon me some of his West India sherry, and I was carried
into a vastly fine library, where I was presented to his lady wife.
While we were at sherry in the library, ale was handed round upon the
terrace. Speeches were made, hands were shaken, Missy (at her father's
request) kissed me farewell, and the whole party reaccompanied me to the
terrace, where they stood waving hats and handkerchiefs, and crying
farewells to all the echoes of the mountains until the chaise had
disappeared.

The echo