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, 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.
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