arm, and dropping a half-crown into
the beggar's hat, made a sign for him to depart. The dandies looked at
each other. 'Showing off, Jack,' said the one. 'Ay, ay, successful at
our last benefit, you know,' rejoined the other; and both again burst
into a horse laugh. At this allusion to his supposed profession, the
blood again mounted into the young gentleman's cheek; but it was only
for a moment, and he continued silent.

We had not left Uphall many miles behind us, when the wind began to
rise, and the gathering clouds indicated an approaching shower. The
dandies began to prepare their umbrellas; and the young gentleman in the
surtout, surveying the dress of the widow, and perceiving that she was
but indifferently provided against a change of weather, inquired of the
guard if the coach was full inside. Being answered in the affirmative,
he addressed the mourner in a tone of sympathy, told her that there was
every appearance of a smart shower, expressed his regret that she could
not be taken into the coach, and concluded by offering her the use of
his cloak. 'It will protect you so far,' said he, 'and, at all events,
it will protect the baby.' The widow thanked him in a modest and
respectful manner, and said that for the sake of her infant she should
be glad to have the cloak, if he would not suffer from the want of it
himself. He assured her that he should not, being accustomed to all
kinds of weather. 'His surtout won't spoil,' said one of the dandies, in
a voice of affected tenderness; 'and besides, my dear, the cloak will
hold you both.' The widow blushed; and the young gentleman, turning
quickly round, addressed the speaker in a tone of dignity which I shall
never forget. 'I am not naturally quarrelsome, sir, but yet it is quite
possible you may provoke me too far.' Both the exquisites immediately
turned as pale as death, shrank in spite of themselves into their
natural insignificance, and scarcely opened their lips, even to each
other, during the remainder of the journey.

In the meantime the young gentleman, with the same politeness and
delicacy as if he had been assisting a lady of quality with her shawl,
proceeded to wrap the widow and her baby in his cloak. He had hardly
accomplished this when a smart shower of rain, mingled with hail,
commenced. Being myself provided with a cloak, the cape of which was
sufficiently large to envelope and protect my head, I offered the young
gentleman my umbrella, which he read