MISADVENTURES OF A LOVER. 



her from revealing her affection for me, until the evening- I met her 

 on the road, when she found that keeping it any longer concealed in 

 her breast was likely to endanger her life. 



On reaching the small town just mentioned, Lavinia complained, 

 and no wonder, of exhaustion, in consequence of the fatigues of that 

 day, as well as of a sleepless previous night spent in concerting mea- 

 sures for making the elopement successful. She begged a little time 

 might be allowed her to recruit her strength. I ordered a snatch of 

 supper. We both ate heartily, ^having been well appetised by the 

 length of the journey. 



We had been in the inn about half an hour when Lavinia ad- 

 dressing me of course said, " My dear, I think we may go now." 

 These words were delivered in a tone ; they were accompanied by a 

 look of affection, which I valued at the time asinfinitely above all the 

 riches of either Ind. 



" Well, then, my darling, we shall set out instantly," was my 

 reply. 



I rang the bell violently. In about twenty seconds, in rushed a 

 stout well-made man. " Waiter!" said I, in a tone which indicated 

 th,at I thought myself a personage of some consequence ; " Waiter ! 

 bring me the bill. Order the horses and carriage to be got ready 

 this moment ; and be sure, too, you don't 



A shriek from Lavinia interrupted me. She swooned away in the 

 easy chair on which she sat at the time. I of course forgot the 

 waiter and every earthly thing else, in the plenitude of my concern 

 for Lavinia. 



"Lavinia! Lavinia! my dear! my angel! what can be the 

 matter?" 



While in the act of addressing her in these terms of affectionate 

 concern, and simultaneously grasping her snow-white hand, I felt 

 some powerful fist take hold of and drag me back by the neck of my 

 coat. 



" What insolence, sir !'' exclaimed I, thinking it was the waiter 

 who thus intruded on us. So saying I turned about my face towards 

 the vulgar ill-bred lacquey of the public, when, to my utter astonish- 

 ment, I beheld three fellows beside me. 



"Come," said the intruder who first entered the room, and whom 

 I took to be John, " come, let us carry her out!" 



" The man who presumes to lay a hand on her will be as dead as 

 a herring that instant," said I indignantly. 



" Never mind the empty threats of the blockhead,'' said the fellow 

 who had spoken already. 



He had no sooner uttered the words than the vile paws of the vil- 

 lanous trio seized hold of Lavinia. I felt a kind of madness coming 

 over my soul. I know I resisted with all my might ; but what else 

 occurred I cannot tell. 



Next morning I awoke as from a dream. I looked around in ut- 

 ter amazement. 1 fancied myself in a new world. While thus be- 

 wildered, while like a person out of his senses, Boots entered my bed- 



