MATRIMONY AND MOONSHINE. 305 



thorough conviction, notwithstanding her lover's present pertinacity, 

 that he was not one of those " stern natures " who can oppose, for any 

 length of time, his own opinions to the earnest solicitations of others. 

 She wished, therefore, to make " assurance doubly sure/' This 

 prudent resolve, however, Evergreen's grosser appetites compelled 

 her to forego, and at Carlisle they accordingly stopped for some time. 

 Having made a more substantial meal than was, perhaps, consistent 

 with that sublimated state in which the fever of love, whilst it lasts, 

 places those under its influence, they entered their carriage and 

 departed from this ancient city just as the lengthened shadows of 

 evening were beginning to fall around them. They proceeded onward 

 for some time "chasing the hours in sweet discourse," when, having 

 entered upon one of the dreary Westmoreland Moors, their ears were 

 assailed by a shrill whistle, soon followed by a hoarse call of " Stop !" 

 The post-boy drew up his horses, and the carriage doors were imme- 

 diately opened by two men who, with their faces blackened, and 

 dressed in farmer's frocks, presented each a pistol to the affrightened 

 lovers with the usual unpleasant alternative, " Your money or your 

 life." Evergreen, timid as we have seen him when placed before 

 the fair Jemima, had a stout English heart, and not relishing the un- 

 ceremonious manner of this address, he quickly disengaged himself 

 from his companion's clasp, and springing out of the carriage grap- 

 pled with his opponent after such a fashion as shewed him to be fully 

 his match ; but alas ! the odds were here against him ; the second 

 ruffian soon came to the assistance of his comrade, and levelling a 

 blow at Evergreen laid him insensible on the ground; having rifled 

 his pockets, they both hastily departed across the moor. As soon as 

 they were well out of sight, the post-boy, who had hitherto kept him- 

 self very quietly on his horse, dismounted, and talked as though he 

 could have himself mastered half a dozen high way men, if the care of his 

 horses had not obliged him to forego the honour of the combat. 

 Young Evergreen, beginning to shew some symptons of returning 

 animation was helped into the carriage, and being placed by the side 

 of Jemima, who scarcely manifested more life than himself, <was 

 driven on to the first village, and lodged at the only inn which it 

 could boast of. 



VOL. III. CHAP. I. THE APOTHECARY. 



The first care, of course, was to send for the apothecary, who 

 having examined his patient, secundum artem, and discanted, as is the 

 method of his brethren on similar occasions, in a very learned manner 

 on the sinciput and occiput, and cerebrum and cerebellum, declared in 

 the favour of a copious bleeding, and summoned the chambermaid to 

 his assistance ; adjusting the bandages, and making the other neces- 

 sary preparations for this important operation. 



As " the purple fountain issued from his veins," poor Jemima, who 

 had not anticipated such accompaniments to her flight, but had 

 always viewed a journey to Gretna en couleur de rose, felt certain 

 qualms, which resembled something like regret at having quitted the 

 maternal roof. 



M. M. No. 99, 2 R 



