He turned, and laid a hand on my shoulder. "What did you say? Are
you cold?"

"No." He put his arm so as to shield the wind from me, nevertheless.

"Well," said he, after a pause, "we have had our pleasure, and it is
over. Now we must go back to the old ways again. I wonder what
o'clock it is?"

He was answered by a church clock striking, heard clearly over the
silent town. I counted the strokes--ELEVEN!

Horrified, we looked at one another by the light of the lamp. Until
this minute we had taken no note of time. Eleven o'clock! How
should we get home to Norton Bury that night?

For, now the excitement was over, I turned sick and faint; my limbs
almost sank under me.

"What must we do, John?"

"Do! oh! 'tis quite easy. You cannot walk--you shall not walk--we
must hire a gig and drive home. I have enough money--all my month's
wages--see!" He felt in his pockets one after the other; his
countenance grew blank. "Why! where is my money gone to?"

Where, indeed! But that it was gone, and irretrievably--most likely
stolen when we were so wedged in the crowd--there could be no manner
of doubt. And I had not a groat. I had little use for money, and
rarely carried any.