174 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



My cousin, possessing a good deal of presence of mind, said to 

 him, " Then you mean to rob mef "No, madam," he replied, 

 " I never robbed a lady, and never will ; bivt if you will give me 

 any money, I shall feel obliged." " Well," she said, " there is my 

 purse, and I suppose I must give up my watch and rings as well 

 — here they are." Taking the purse, he appropriated the silver 

 to himself, and then politely handed it back to her, with her 

 watch and rings. The servant, being frightened nearly out of 

 her wits, begged him to keep ail, and let them go. He sternly 

 reproved her, and told her to hold her tongue. Then, bowing 

 to my cousin, said he had one favour to ask more before they 

 parted. " What is it T she said. " Only, madam, that you will 

 give me your word of honour that you will not appear against 

 me, should I be taken." " That," she replied, " I willingly give 

 you, and can only regret that one such as you are, of good man- 

 ners and address, should be found pursuing so unworthy a 

 course. You have not robbed me of much, and more I would 

 readily have given you, had I possessed it." " Many thanks, 

 madam, for your kind wishes, and may you never know the 

 miseries I have experienced in life." 



Tlie next moment he disappeared into the wood. The ser- 

 vant immediately ran home, notwithstanding her mistress's 

 orders to stop, and spread the news to the other servants, that 

 her mistress liad been robbed. Upon the governor's return, he 

 was quickly apprized of what had taken place, and immediately 

 requested my kind-hearted cousin to give him all the particulars. 

 This she was very reluctant to do, fearing my father would 

 directly send out to take him. " Well, Mary," he said, " you 

 know I always keep my word, and if you will give me the full 

 particulars of all that took place, your hero shall be none the 

 worse for my knowing the secret." The story was then told, 

 and the governor remarked, " That fellow I must see, if possible ; 

 but I give you my word he shall never receive injury at my 

 hands for his conduct to you this day." 



About two hours after we had all retired to rest, my father's 

 knock at my bedroom door and the dog barking, roused me from 

 sleep. Jumping out of bed, I asked quickly if anything was 

 the matter. " No," he replied, " but I want you, my boy ; get 

 up quietly, and come down to my room — we must go out." This 

 was nothing unusual ; so I dressed at once, and went cautiously 

 down stairs. " Now," he said, " you will say nothing of this to 

 Mary to-morrow ; but I wish to meet with the man who robbed 

 her — not to injure him, but to give him five pounds, and to see 

 if I can make an honest man of him, for he must have some 

 proper feelings left." We accordingly sallied forth, each with 



