saw the necessity of terminating this painful scene.  A kindly farewell was taken of Hodges.  Amabel waved her hand to her father, when at this moment Patience appeared at the window, and, calling to Blaize, threw a little package tied in a handkerchief to him.  Doctor Hodges took up the parcel, and gave it to the porter, who, untying the handkerchief, glanced at a note it enclosed, and, striking his horse with his stick, dashed off towards Cheapside.

“Pursue him!” cried Amabel to Leonard; “he is flying to the Earl of Rochester.”

The intimation was sufficient for the apprentice.  Urging his horse into a quick pace, he came up with the fugitive, just as he had reached Cheapside.  Blaize’s mad career had been checked by Nizza Macascree, who, seizing the bridle, stopped the steed.  Leonard, who was armed with a heavy riding-whip, applied it unsparingly to Blaize’s shoulders.

“Entreat him to hold his hand, dear, good Mistress Amabel,” cried the porter; “it was for your sake alone I made this rash attempt.  Patience told me you were dying to see the Earl of Rochester, and made me promise I would ride to Whitehall to acquaint his lordship whither you were going.  Here is her letter which I was about to deliver.”  And as he spoke, he handed her the note, which was tied with a piece of packthread, and directed in strange and almost illegible characters.

“Do not hurt him more,” said Amabel; “he was not aware of the mischief he was about to commit.  And learn from me, Blaize, that, so far from desiring to see the Earl of Rochester, all my anxiety is to avoid him.”

“If I had known that,” returned the porter, “I would not have stirred a step.  But Patience assured me the contrary.”

By this time, Doctor Hodges had come up, and an explanation ensued.  It was agreed, however, that it would be better not to alarm Mr. Bloundel, but to attribute the porter’s sudden flight to mismanagement of his steed.  Accordingly, they returned to the residence of the grocer, who was anxiously looking out for them; and after a brief delay, during which the saddlebags were again examined and secured, they departed.  Mr. Bloundel looked wistfully after his daughter, and she returned his gaze as long as her blinding eyes would permit her.  So unwonted was the sound of horses’ feet at this period, that many a melancholy face appeared at the window to gaze at them as they rode by, and Nizza Macascree shuddered as she witnessed the envious glances cast after them by these poor captives.  As to Blaize, when they got into Cheapside, he was so terrified by the dismal evidences of the pestilence that met him at every turn, that he could scarcely keep his seat, and it was not until he had drenched himself and his companion with vinegar, and stuffed his mouth with myrrh and zedoary, that he felt anything like composure.