Ripton suggested that it was sudden; adding from his larger experience, people perhaps might talk.

The lover could not understand what they should talk about, but he said:  “If I give him who came for her yesterday the clue?  If no one sees or hears of me, what can they say?  O Rip!  I’ll give her up.  I’m wrecked for ever!  What of that?  Yes—­let them take her!  The world in arms should never have torn her from me, but when she cries—­Yes! all’s over.  I’ll find him at once.”

He searched in out-of-the-way corners for the hat of resolve.  Ripton looked on, wretcheder than ever.

The idea struck him:—­“Suppose, Richard, she doesn’t want to go?”

It was a moment when, perhaps, one who sided with parents and guardians and the old wise world, might have inclined them to pursue their righteous wretched course, and have given small Cupid a smack and sent him home to his naughty Mother.  Alas!(it is The Pilgrim’s Scrip interjecting) women are the born accomplices of mischief!  In bustles Mrs. Berry to clear away the refection, and finds the two knights helmed, and sees, though ’tis dusk, that they wear doubtful brows, and guesses bad things for her dear God Hymen in a twinkling.

“Dear! dear!” she exclaimed, “and neither of you eaten a scrap!  And there’s my dear young lady off into the prettiest sleep you ever see!”

“Ha?” cried the lover, illuminated.

“Soft as a baby!” Mrs. Berry averred.  “I went to look at her this very moment, and there’s not a bit of trouble in her breath.  It come and it go like the sweetest regular instrument ever made.  The Black Ox haven’t trod on her foot yet!  Most like it was the air of London.  But only fancy, if you had called in a doctor!  Why, I shouldn’t have let her take any of his quackery.  Now, there!”

Ripton attentively observed his chief, and saw him doff his hat with a curious caution, and peer into its recess, from which, during Mrs. Berry’s speech, he drew forth a little glove—­dropped there by some freak of chance.

“Keep me, keep me, now you have me!” sang the little glove, and amused the lover with a thousand conceits.

“When will she wake, do you think, Mrs. Berry?” he asked.

“Oh! we mustn’t go for disturbing her,” said the guileful good creature.  “Bless ye! let her sleep it out.  And if you young gentlemen was to take my advice, and go and take a walk for to get a appetite—­everybody should eat! it’s their sacred duty, no matter what their feelings be! and I say it who’m no chicken!—­I’ll frickashee this—­which is a chicken—­against your return.  I’m a cook, I can assure ye!”

The lover seized her two hands.  “You’re the best old soul in the world!” he cried.  Mrs. Berry appeared willing to kiss him.  “We won’t disturb her.  Let her sleep.  Keep her in bed, Mrs. Berry.  Will you?  And we’ll call to inquire after her this evening, and come and see her to-morrow.  I’m sure you’ll be kind to her.  There! there!” Mrs. Berry was preparing to whimper.  “I trust her to you, you see.  Good-bye, you dear old soul.”