atton! Titmouse ran for nearly half
a mile on the high-road towards Grilston, without stopping. He dared not
venture to return to Yatton, with the sound of the lusty farmer's voice
in his ears, to get back from the Aubrey Arms the horse which had
brought him that afternoon from Grilston, to which place, therefore, he
walked on, through the snow and darkness; reaching his inn in a perfect
panic, from which, at length, a tumbler of stiff brandy and water, with
two or three cigars, somewhat relieved him. Forgetful of the solemn
pledge which he had given to Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap, not to
disclose his name or errand, and it never once occurring to him that if
he would but keep his own counsel, Miss Aubrey could never identify
_him_ with the ruffian who had assailed her; Titmouse spent the interval
between eight and twelve o'clock, at which latter hour the coach by
which he had resolved to return to London would pass through Grilston,
in inditing the following letter to Miss Aubrey:--

"_Grilston, January 6th, 18--._
"HONORED MISS,

"Hoping No Offence Will Be Taken where None is meant, (_which am
Sure of_,) This I send To say Who I Am which, Is the Right And True
Owner of Yatton which You Enjoy Amongst You All At This present
(Till The Law Give it to _Me_) Which It quickly Will, and No
Mistake, And which It Ought to Have done When I were First born And
Before Y^r Respect^e. Family ever Came into it, And All which Y^r
hon^d. Brother Have so unlawfully Got Possession Of must Come Back
to Them Whose Due It is w^h Is myself as will be Soon prov^d. And
w^h am most truely Sorry Of _on your own Acc^t_. (Meaning (hon^d.
Miss) you Alone) as Sure As Yatton is Intirely Mine So My Heart Is
_yours_ and No Longer my Own Ever since I Saw You first as Can
Easily prove but w^h doubtless You Have forgot Seeing You Never
New, because (as Mr. Gammon, My Solliciter And a Very Great Lawyer,
says) _Cases Alter Circumstances_, what Can I say More Than that I
Love you _Most Amazing_ Such As Never Thought Myself Capable of
Doing Before and w^h cannot help Ever Since I First saw your most
_Lovely_ and _Divine_ and _striking_ Face w^h have Stuck In my Mind
Ever Since Day and Night Sleeping and Waking I will Take my Oath
Never Of Having Lov'd Any one Else, Though (must Say) have Had a
Wonderful Many _O