rk.

CHAPTER XXIV

LOVE PENITENT

"I tell you, Captain Anerley, that she knocked me down. Your daughter
there, who looks as if butter would not melt in her mouth, knocked down
Commander Carroway of his Majesty's coastguard, like a royal Bengal
tiger, Sir. I am not come to complain; such an action I would scorn; and
I admire the young lady for her spirit, Sir. My sword was drawn; no man
could have come near me; but before I could think, Sir, I was lying on
my back. Do you call that constitutional?"

"Mary, lof, however could you think it--to knock down Captain Carroway?"

"Father, I never did. He went down of himself, because he was
flourishing about so. I never thought what I was doing of at all. And
with all my heart I beg his pardon. What right had you, Sir, to come
spying after me?"

This interview was not of the common sort. Lieutenant Carroway, in full
uniform, was come to Anerley Farm that afternoon; not for a moment to
complain of Mary, but to do his duty, and to put things straight; while
Mary had insisted upon going home at once from the hospitable house of
Uncle Popplewell, who had also insisted upon going with her, and taking
his wife to help the situation.

A council had been called immediately, with Mistress Anerley presiding;
and before it had got beyond the crying stage, in marched the brave
lieutenant.

Stephen Anerley was reserving his opinion--which generally means that
there is none yet to reserve--but in his case there would be a great
deal by-and-by. Master Popplewell had made up his mind and his wife's,
long ago, and confirmed it in the one-horse shay, while Mary was riding
Lord Keppel in the rear; and the mind of the tanner was as tough as good
oak bark. His premises had been intruded upon--the property which he had
bought with his own money saved by years of honest trade, his private
garden, his ornamental bower, his wife's own pleasure-plot, at a sacred
moment invaded, trampled, and outraged by a scurvy preventive-man and
his low crew. The first thing he had done to the prostrate Carroway was
to lay hold of him by the collar, and shake his fist at him and demand
his warrant--a magistrate's warrant, or from the crown itself. The poor
lieutenant having none to show, "Then I will have the law of you, Sir,"
the tanner shouted; "if it costs me two hundred and fifty pounds. I
am known for a man, Sir, who sticks to his word; and my attorney is a
genuine bulldog."

This had frightened