he want of interest which the natives of the place take in
archaeological subjects. He told me, however, that about three weeks
previously, he had observed several men facing the wall opposite with
large stones, which they brought apparently from some place close at
hand; but that, having his own work to attend to, he had not bestowed
any particular thought on the matter. He said the field was rented by
a person for the purpose of cleaning carpets, and that he had no doubt
the removal had been accomplished by his directions.

On stepping across the road, I found these suspicions completely
realised; for there, resting on the top of the wall, were the
time-honoured steps of the cross of my anxiety. Luckily for me, at
least, the tenant was not at hand at the time, as in the state of
excitement in which I was, I might have done or said something which I
should afterwards have regretted. I had no alternative but to return
to town, 'nursing my wrath to keep it warm,' and thinking over the
best and most efficacious method in which I could accomplish the
punishment of the aggressor, whoever he might be, and procuring the
restoration of the cross in all its primitive simplicity. I thought of
an article in the papers, into which all my caustic and sarcastic
powers were to be concentrated and discharged on the head of the
desecrator--then of calling on the lord of the manor, and mentioning
the matter to him, so as, if possible, to carry his influence along
with me, although I thought it quite probable that he might have
sanctioned the spoliation, to save the expense of new stones for the
repair of his tenant's wall. Under this latter impression, therefore,
and previous to carrying either of these belligerent intentions into
effect, I thought it would only be fair to give the obnoxious man an
opportunity of explaining the circumstances under which he had
assumed such an unwarranted responsibility. Accordingly, a short time
afterwards, I again wended my way towards the field, determined to
bring the matter in some way or other to a bearing, when I saw a very
pleasant-looking man standing at the door of the house in which the
carpet-cleansing operations are carried on. Supposing him to be the
delinquent, I endeavoured to bridle my rising choler as much as
possible, while I asked him whether he could tell me anything about
the removal of the cross which had once stood in that field. With a
gentle smile, which I thought at the time al