you now
propose to do?" said I. "I scarcely know," said the man; "I suppose I
must endeavour to put on the wheel with your help." "How far are you
from your home?" I demanded. "Upwards of thirty miles," said the man;
"my master keeps an inn on the great north road, and from thence I
started early this morning with a family which I conveyed across the
country to a hall at some distance from here. On my return I was beset
by the thunder-storm, which frightened the horses, who dragged the chaise
off the road to the field above, and overset it as you saw. I had
proposed to pass the night at an inn about twelve miles from here on my
way back, though how I am to get there to-night I scarcely know, even if
we can put on the wheel, for, to tell you the truth, I am shaken by my
fall, and the smoulder and smoke of that fire-ball have rather bewildered
my head; I am, moreover, not much acquainted with the way."

"The best thing you can do," said I, "is to pass the night here; I will
presently light a fire, and endeavour to make you comfortable--in the
morning we will see to your wheel." "Well," said the man, "I shall be
glad to pass the night here, provided I do not intrude, but I must see to
the horses." Thereupon I conducted the man to the place where the horses
were tied. "The trees drip very much upon them," said the man, "and it
will not do for them to remain here all night; they will be better out on
the field picking the grass, but first of all they must have a good feed
of corn." Thereupon he went to his chaise, from which he presently
brought two small bags, partly filled with corn--into them he inserted
the mouths of the horses, tying them over their heads. "Here we will
leave them for a time," said the man; "when I think they have had enough,
I will come back, tie their fore-legs, and let them pick about."

CHAPTER XCVII.

Fire of Charcoal--The New Comer--No Wonder!--Not a Blacksmith--A Love
Affair--Gretna Green--A Cool Thousand--Family Estates--Borough
Interest--Grand Education--Let us Hear--Already Quarrelling--Honourable
Parents--Most Heroically--Not Common People--Fresh Charcoal.

It might be about ten o'clock at night. Belle, the postillion, and
myself sat just within the tent, by a fire of charcoal which I had
kindled in the chafing-pan. The man had removed the harness from his
horses, and, after tethering their legs, had left them for the night in
the field above, to regale themselves on wh