Catherine, asked the pretty maid whence she was come, and whether
she would like a ride in his carriage. To the latter of which
questions Mrs. Catherine replied truly yes; to the former, her
answer was that she had come from Stratford; whereas, as we very
well know, she had lately quitted Birmingham.

"Hast thee seen a woman pass this way, on a black horse, with a
large bag of goold over the saddle?" said Jehu, preparing to mount
upon the roof of his coach.

"No, indeed," said Mrs. Cat.

"Nor a trooper on another horse after her--no? Well, there be a
mortal row down Birmingham way about sich a one. She have killed,
they say, nine gentlemen at supper, and have strangled a German
prince in bed. She have robbed him of twenty thousand guineas, and
have rode away on a black horse."

"That can't be I," said Mrs. Cat, naively, "for I have but three
shillings and a groat."

"No, it can't be thee, truly, for where's your bag of goold? and,
besides, thee hast got too pretty a face to do such wicked things as
to kill nine gentlemen and strangle a German prince."

"Law, coachman," said Mrs. Cat, blushing archly--",Law, coachman, DO
you think so?" The girl would have been pleased with a compliment
even on her way to be hanged; and the parley ended by Mrs. Catherine
stepping into the carriage, where there was room for eight people at
least, and where two or three individuals had already taken their