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answer： “What are you a talking of； my lord？ I showed the women
as much consideration as the law does； and what more would you
have me do？” If you was to count up in the newspapers the
number of females as have been worked off in this here city alone；
in the last ten year；’ said Mr Dennis thoughtfully； ‘you’d be
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surprised at the total—quite amazed； you would。 There’s a
dignified and equal thing； a beautiful thing！ But we’ve no security
for its lasting。 Now that they’ve begun to favour these here
Papists； I shouldn’t wonder if they went and altered even that； one
of these days。 Upon my soul； I shouldn’t。’
The subject； perhaps from being of too exclusive and
professional a nature； failed to interest Hugh as much as his friend
had anticipated。 But he had no time to pursue it； for at this crisis
Mr Tappertit entered precipitately； at sight of whom Dolly uttered
a scream of joy； and fairly threw herself into his arms。
‘I knew it； I was sure of it！’ cried Dolly。 ‘My dear father’s at the
door。 Thank God； thank God！ Bless you； Sim。 Heaven bless you for
this！’
Simon Tappertit； who had at first implicitly believed that the
locksmith’s daughter； unable any longer to suppress her secret
passion for himself； was about to give it full vent in its intensity；
and to declare that she was his for ever； looked extremely foolish
when she said these words；—the more so； as they were received
by Hugh and Dennis with a loud laugh； which made her draw
back； and regard him with a fixed and earnest look。
‘Miss Haredale；’ said Sim； after a very awkward silence； ‘I hope
you’re as comfortable as circumstances will permit of。 Dolly
Varden； my darling—my own； my lovely one—I hope you’re pretty
comfortable likewise。’
Poor little Dolly！ She saw how it was； hid her face in her hands；
and sobbed more bitterly than ever。
‘You meet in me； Miss V。；’ said Simon； laying his hand upon his
breast； ‘not a ’prentice； not a workman； not a slave； not the wictim
of your father’s tyrannical behaviour； but the leader of a great
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people； the captain of a noble band； in which these gentlemen are；
as I may say； corporals and serjeants。 You behold in me； not a
private individual； but a public character； not a mender of locks；
but a healer of the wounds of his unhappy country。 Dolly V。； sweet
Dolly V。； for how many years have I looked forward to this present
meeting！ For how many years has it been my intention to exalt
and ennoble you！ I redeem it。 Behold in me； your husband。 Yes；
beautiful Dolly—charmer—enslaver—S。 Tappertit is all your own！’
As he said these words he advanced towards her。 Dolly
retreated till she could go no farther； and then sank down upon
the floor。 Thinking it very possible that this might be maiden
modesty； Simon essayed to raise her； on which Dolly； goaded to
desperation； wound her hands in his hair； and crying out amidst
her tears that he was a dreadful little wretch； and always had
been； shook； and pulled； and beat him； until he was fain to call for
help； most lustily。 Hugh had never admired her half so much as at
that moment。
‘She’s in an excited state to…night；’ said Simon； as he smoothed
his rumpled feathers； ‘and don’t know when she’s well off。 Let her
be by herself till to…morrow； and that’ll bring her down a little。
Carry her into the next house！’
Hugh had her in his arms directly。 It might be that Mr
Tappertit’s heart was really softened by her distress； or it might be
that he felt it in some degree indecorous that his intended bride
should be struggling in the grasp of another man。 He commanded
him； on second thoughts； to put her down again； and looked
moodily on as she flew to Miss Haredale’s side； and clinging to her
dress； hid her flushed face in its folds。
‘They shall remain here together till to…morrow；’ said Simon；
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who had now quite recovered his dignity—‘till to…morrow。 Come
away！’
‘Ay！’ cried Hugh。 ‘Come away； captain。 Ha ha ha！’
‘What are you laughing at？’ demanded Simon sternly。
‘Nothing； captain； nothing；’ Hugh rejoined； and as he spoke；
and clapped his hand upon the shoulder of the little man； he
laughed again； for some unknown reason； with tenfold violence。
Mr Tappertit surveyed him from head to foot with lofty scorn
（this only made him laugh the more）； and turning to the prisoners；
said：
‘You’ll take notice； ladies； that this place is well watched on
every side； and that the least noise is certain to be attended with
unpleasant consequences。 You’ll hear—both of you—more of our
intentions to…morrow。 In the mean time； don’t show yourselves at
the window； or appeal to any of the people you may see pass it； for
if you do； it’ll be known directly that you come from a Catholic
house； and all the exertions our men can make； may not be able to
save your lives。’
With this last caution； which was true enough； he turned to the
door； followed by Hugh and Dennis。 They paused for a moment；
going out； to look at them clasped in each other’s arms； and then
left the cottage； fastening the door； and setting a good watch upon
it； and indeed all round the house。
‘I say；’ growled Dennis； as they walked away in company； ‘that’s
a dainty pair。 Muster Gashford’s one is as handsome as the other；
eh？’
‘Hush！’ said Hugh； hastily。 ‘Don’t you mention names。 It’s a bad
habit。’
‘I wouldn’t like to be him； then （as you don’t like names）； when
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