l had insisted on taking with her, even at
the risk of its being recognized as hers, now jumped up from her place
at her mistress' feet, and ran and licked Joe's face, as if to assure
him of her continued love.

At which, for the first time, Joe burst out crying, and sobbed hard.

"Come, my man, prove your devotion to your mistress by deeds, not tears!
Drive fast, or we will miss the coach," Lyon Berners advised.

Joe wiped his eyes with the cuff of his coat, and whipped up his horses,
and they rattled over the rocky road for an hour or more before they
reached the little hamlet, where they were to wait for the coach. It was
very late, and all Upton was asleep, with the exception of the hostlers
at the stable, where the coach stopped to change horses. Here Joe drew
up his wagon, but his passengers retained their seats while waiting for
the coming of the stage-coach. They had not waited more than five
minutes, when they heard the guard's warning horn blow, and the huge
vehicle rumble down the street, and pull up before the stable door.

Very quickly the tired horses, were taken out and led away to rest, and
the fresh ones brought forth.

Meanwhile Lyon Berners alighted, and spoke to the agent, to take places
for himself and his wife.

"Show your pass, my man! show your pass! We can't take you without a
pass. How do we know but you are running away?" objected the agent.

Lyon Berners smiled bitterly to think how near the man had inadvertently
approached the truth. He handed up the pass, which the agent carefully
examined before he returned it, saying:

"Yes, that's all right; but you and the girl will have to get up on top,
there. We can't have any darkies inside, you know. And in fact, if we
could, there's no room, you see; the inside is full."

"Caesar" helped "Dinah" up on the top of the coach, and then climbed
after her. Joe handed up the little dog; and was about to take a
dangerously affecting leave of his beloved master and mistress, when
luckily the coachman cracked his whip and the horses started.

Joe watched it out of sight, and then got into his seat on the wagon,
and drove back to Pendleton Park, the most disconsolate darkey under the
sun.

Meanwhile the flying pair pursued their journey, almost happy, because
at length they were together.

Soon after sunrise the next morning the stage reached the station at
which it was to breakfast. Not wishing to subject their disguise to the
too prying eyes