to the post mistress.  The supper tables in hall and kitchen were very different from those of the previous night.  In the latter, Ben Toner, the constable, and Maguffin had each a lady to talk to.  Their superiors missed the company of the lawyer, the detective, and Mr. Bigglethorpe, to say nothing of Mr. Terry.  The doctor was stretched out upon a sofa in the office, where his daughter waited on him, assisted by Perrowne, who had to carry the other articles of food while she preceded him with the tea.  Miss Du Plessis, similarly helped by the colonel, attended to the wants of the dominie.  Consequently, the steady members of the supper circle were the three matrons and Miss Carmichael, with Squires Walker and Carruthers, Mr. Errol, and the Captain.  All agreed that Wilkinson had done a very fine thing, and Mrs. Du Plessis was warm in his praise.  “The only men that stuck to me,” said the Squire, “were Mr. Errol and Bigglethorpe, and even Bigglethorpe went off fishing as soon as he came to the water, so that I may say Mr. Errol was my only faithful adherent.”  The ladies all looked with much approbation on the blushing minister, and Mrs. Carmichael showed her approval by immediately refilling his cup.  Squire Walker whispered in his ear:  “Fine woman, Mr. Errol, fine woman, that Mrs. Carmichael!  Is she a widow, sir?” Mr. Errol did not like this whispering at table, especially on such a subject, but he replied affirmatively in as brief a way as possible, and went on with his repast.  The Captain said that his mill was clean run out of gear with all these starboard and port watches and tacks to every point of the compass; and, when conversation lagged, Carruthers fairly nodded over his plate.  Nevertheless, after supper, the occupants of the kitchen were called in and prayers were held, in which Mr. Errol offered petitions for the bereaved, the suffering, and the criminal, and committed the watchers at the post of danger and duty to the care of their Heavenly Father, to all of which Mr. Perrowne responded with a hearty Amen.  Then, the parsons insisted on going home to their boarding houses, and Squire Walker mounted his horse for home.  Anxiously, Mrs. Carruthers asked her husband if he anticipated danger where her father was, and Miss Carmichael asked the Captain the same question, without mentioning anyone, but having Coristine in view.  Both endeavoured to reassure the minds of the half tearful women, after which they carried the doctor upstairs, and all went to bed.  Fearing that the idiot boy might repeat his double attempt to fire the verandah, Mr. Perrowne had told Muggins to lie there and watch it, and there the faithful dog lay the whole night through, to the satisfaction of the inmates of Bridesdale, although happily nothing happened to test his quality as a watch dog.