The popularity which Mr. Brock gained by this manoeuvre was very
great; but with regard to the names of the horses and children,
which coincided so extraordinarily, it is but fair to state, that
the christening of the quadrupeds had only taken place about two
minutes before the dragoon's appearance on the green. For if the
fact must be confessed, he, while seated near the inn window, had
kept a pretty wistful eye upon all going on without; and the horses
marching thus to and fro for the wonderment of the village, were
only placards or advertisements for the riders.

There was, besides the boy now occupied with the horses, and the
landlord and landlady of the "Bugle Inn," another person connected
with that establishment--a very smart, handsome, vain, giggling
servant-girl, about the age of sixteen, who went by the familiar
name of Cat, and attended upon the gentlemen in the parlour, while
the landlady was employed in cooking their supper in the kitchen.
This young person had been educated in the village poor-house, and
having been pronounced by Doctor Dobbs and the schoolmaster the
idlest, dirtiest, and most passionate little minx with whom either
had ever had to do, she was, after receiving a very small portion of
literary instruction (indeed it must be stated that the young lady
did not know her letters), bound apprentice at the age of nine years
to Mrs. Score, her relative, and landlady of the "Bugle Inn."

If Miss Cat, or Catherine Hall, was a slattern and a minx, Mrs.
Score was a far superior shrew; and for the seven years of her
apprenticeship the girl was completely at her mistress's mercy. Yet
though wondrously stingy, jealous, and violent, while her maid was
idle and extravagant, and her husband seemed to abet the girl, Mrs.
Score put up with the wench's airs, idleness, and caprices, without