said--built in a lane leading out of the principal street. This lane
was almost blocked up with play-goers of all ranks and in all sorts
of equipages, from the coach-and-six to the sedan-chair, mingled with
a motley crowd on foot, all jostling, fighting, and screaming, till
the place became a complete bear-garden.

"Oh, John! take care!" and I clung to his arm.

"Never mind! I'm big enough and strong enough for any crowd. Hold
on, Phineas." If I had been a woman, and the woman that he loved, he
could not have been more tender over my weakness. The physical
weakness--which, however humiliating to myself, and doubtless
contemptible in most men's eyes--was yet dealt by the hand of Heaven,
and, as such, regarded by John only with compassion.

The crowd grew denser and more formidable. I looked beyond it, up
towards the low hills that rose in various directions round the town;
how green and quiet they were, in the still June evening! I only
wished we were safe back again at Norton Bury.

But now there came a slight swaying in the crowd, as a sedan-chair
was borne through--or attempted to be--for the effort failed. There
was a scuffle, one of the bearers was knocked down and hurt. Some
cried "shame!" others seemed to think this incident only added to the
frolic. At last, in the midst of the confusion, a lady put her head
out of the sedan and gazed around her.

It was a remarkable countenance; once seen, you could never forget
it. Pale, rather large and hard in outline, an aquiline nose--full,
passionate, yet sensitive lips--and very dark eyes. She spoke, and