horse's rein, and catching the gentleman by the leg was trying to throw
him. But really it is impossible to say what Mr. Tebrick intended by his
behaviour or what he would have done, for the gentleman finding himself
suddenly assaulted in so unexpected a fashion by so strange a touzled
and dishevelled figure, clubbed his hunting crop and dealt him a blow on
the temple so that he fell insensible.

Another gentleman rode up at this moment and they were civil enough to
dismount and carry Mr. Tebrick into the cottage, where they were met by
old Nanny who kept wringing her hands and told them Mr. Tebrick's wife
had run away and she was a vixen, and that was the cause that Mr.
Tebrick had run out and assaulted them.

The two gentlemen could not help laughing at this; and mounting their
horses rode on without delay, after telling each other that Mr. Tebrick,
whoever he was, was certainly a madman, and the old woman seemed as mad
as her master.

This story, however, went the rounds of the gentry in those parts and
perfectly confirmed everyone in their previous opinion, namely that Mr.
Tebrick was mad and his wife had run away from him. The part about her
being a vixen was laughed at by the few that heard it, but was soon left
out as immaterial to the story, and incredible in itself, though
afterwards it came to be remembered and its significance to be
understood. When Mr. Tebrick came to himself it was past noon, and his
head was aching so painfully that he could only call to mind in a
confused way what had happened.

However, he sent off Mrs. Cork's son directly on one of his horses to
enquire about the hunt.