Joe Willet rode leisurely along in his desponding mood, picturingthe locksmith"s daughter going down long country-dances, andpoussetting dreadfully with bold strangers--which was almost toomuch to bear--when he heard the tramp of a horse"s feet behind him,and looking back, saw a well-mounted gentleman advancing at asmart canter. As this rider passed, he checked his steed, andcalled him of the Maypole by his name. Joe set spurs to the greymare, and was at his side directly.
"I thought it was you, sir," he said, touching his hat. "A fairevening, sir. Glad to see you out of doors again."
The gentleman smiled and nodded. "What gay doings have been goingon to-day, Joe? Is she as pretty as ever? Nay, don"t blush, man."
"If I coloured at all, Mr Edward," said Joe, "which I didn"t know Idid, it was to think I should have been such a fool as ever to haveany hope of her. She"s as far out of my reach as--as Heaven is."
"Well, Joe, I hope that"s not altogether beyond it," said Edward,good-humouredly. "Eh?"
"Ah!" sighed Joe. "It"s all very fine talking, sir. Proverbs areeasily made in cold blood. But it can"t be helped. Are you boundfor our house, sir?"
"Yes. As I am not quite strong yet, I shall stay there to-night,and ride home coolly in the morning."
"If you"re in no particular hurry," said Joe after a short silence,"and will bear with the pace of this poor jade, I shall be glad toride on with you to the Warren, sir, and hold your horse when youdismount. It"ll save you having to walk from the Maypole, thereand back again. I can spare the time well, sir, for I am too soon."
"And so am I," returned Edward, "though I was unconsciously ridingfast just now, in compliment I suppose to the pace of my thoughts,which were travelling post. We will keep together, Joe, willingly,and be as good company as may be. And cheer up, cheer up, think ofthe locksmith"s daughter with a stout heart, and you shall win heryet."
Joe shook his head; but there was something so cheery in thebuoyant hopeful manner of this speech, that his spirits rose underits influence, and communicated as it would seem some new impulseeven to the grey mare, who, breaking from her sober amble into agentle trot, emulated the pace of Edward Chester"s horse, andappeared to flatter herself that he was doing his very best.
It was a fine dry night, and the light of a young moon, which wasthen just rising, shed around that peace and tranquillity whichgives to evening time its most delicious charm. The lengthenedshadows of the trees, softened as if reflected in still water,threw their carpet on the path the travellers pursued, and thelight wind stirred yet more softly than before, as though it weresoothing Nature in her sleep. By little and little they ceasedtalking, and rode on side by side in a pleasant silence.
"The Maypole lights are brilliant to-night," said Edward, as theyrode along the lane from which, while the intervening trees werebare of leaves, that hostelry was visible.
"Brilliant indeed, sir," returned Joe, rising in his stirrups toget a better view. "Lights in the large room, and a fireglimmering in the best bedchamber? Why, what company can this befor, I wonder!"
"Some benighted horseman wending towards London, and deterred fromgoing on to-night by the marvellous tales of my friend thehighwayman, I suppose," said Edward.
"He must be a horseman of good quality to have such accommodations.
Your bed too, sir--!"
"No matter, Joe. Any other room will do for me. But come--there"snine striking. We may push on."
They cantered forward at as brisk a pace as Joe"s charger couldattain, and presently stopped in the little copse where he had lefther in the morning. Edward dismounted, gave his bridle to hiscompanion, and walked with a light step towards the house.
A female servant was waiting at a side gate in the garden-wall, andadmitted him without delay. He hurried along the terrace-walk, anddarted up a flight of broad steps leading into an old and gloomyhall, whose walls were ornamented with rusty suits of armour,antlers, weapons of the chase, and suchlike garniture. Here hepaused, but not long; for as he looked round, as if expecting theattendant to have followed, and wondering she had not done so, alovely girl appeared, whose dark hair next moment rested on hisbreast. Almost at the same instant a heavy hand was laid upon herarm, Edward felt himself thrust away, and Mr Haredale stood betweenthem.
He regarded the young man sternly without removing his hat; withone hand clasped his niece, and with the other, in which he heldhis riding-whip, motioned him towards the door. The young man drewhimself up, and returned his gaze.