ed from them that they had been engaged
to wait at a certain spot, on an extensive heath some twelve miles
distant; that they had hardly waited there an hour when a private
carriage, containing the lady in question and a gentleman, arrived; that
the lady, closely veiled, had been transferred from the one conveyance
to the other, and that the post-boys had been ordered to drive with the
utmost speed to the destination where they now found themselves.

This account seemed to satisfy the scruples of the landlord, which, of
course, were by no means pecuniary, but merely moral, when in bounced
the fiery-visaged landlady. He was forced to stand the small-shot of
his wife. Poor man! he had only powder to reply to it, and that, just
now, was woefully damp.

"You lazy, loitering, do-little, much-hindering, prateapace sot! here's
the lady taken alarmingly ill. The physician has been sent for, and his
carriage will be at the door before you blow that ill-looking nose of
yours, that my blessed ten commandments are itching to score down--you
paltry --- ah!"

With a very little voice, and a very great submission, mine host
squeaked out, "Have you seen the lady's face?"

"Face! is it face you want? and ladies' faces too--haven't I got face
enough for you--you apology, you!"

What the good woman said was indubitably true. She had face enough for
any two moderately-visaged wives, and enough over and above to have
supplied anyone who might have lost a portion of theirs. However, I
will be more polite than the landlady, and acquaint the reader, that no
one yet of the establishment had seen the lady's face, nor was it
intended that anyone should.

As this squabble was growing into a quarrel the physician arrived; he
had not been long alone with the unknown, before he sent for a surgeon,
and the surgeon for a nurse. There was so much bustle, alarm, and
secrecy, above-stairs, that the landlord began to consider which of the
two undertakers, his friends, he should favour with the anticipated job,
and rubbed his hands as he dwelt on the idea of a coroner's inquest, and
the attendant dinner. The landlady was nearly raving mad at being
excluded from what she supposed was the bed of death. Hot flannels and
warm water were now eagerly called for--and these demands were looked
upon as a sure sign that dissolution approached.

The stairs approaching the lady's chamber were lined with master,
mistress, man-servant and maid-servants, a