spring. Having hung it over the fire, I went to the tent in which
the postillion was still sleeping, and called upon him to arise.
He awoke with a start, and stared around him at first with the
utmost surprise, not unmixed, I could observe, with a certain
degree of fear. At last, looking in my face, he appeared to
recollect himself. "I had quite forgot," said he, as he got up,
"where I was, and all that happened yesterday. However, I remember
now the whole affair, thunder-storm, thunder-bolt, frightened
horses, and all your kindness. Come, I must see after my coach and
horses; I hope we shall be able to repair the damage." "The damage
is already quite repaired," said I, "as you will see, if you come
to the field above." "You don't say so," said the postillion,
coming out of the tent; "well, I am mightily beholden to you. Good
morning, young gentle-woman," said he, addressing Belle, who,
having finished her preparations, was seated near the fire. "Good
morning, young man," said Belle, "I suppose you would be glad of
some breakfast; however, you must wait a little, the kettle does
not boil." "Come and look at your chaise," said I; "but tell me
how it happened that the noise which I have been making did not
awake you; for three-quarters of an hour at least I was hammering
close at your ear." "I heard you all the time," said the
postillion, "but your hammering made me sleep all the sounder; I am
used to hear hammering in my morning sleep. There's a forge close
by the room where I sleep when I'm at home, at my inn; for we have
all kinds of conveniences at my inn--forge, carpenter's shop, and
wheel-wright's,--so that when I heard you hammering I thought, no
doubt, that it was the old noise, and that I was comfortable in my
bed at my own inn." We now ascended to the field, where I showed
the postillion his chaise. He looked at the pin attentively,
rubbed his hands, and gave a loud laugh. "Is it not well done?"