, alighting. "Never mind the
horse. He'll stand quiet enough, with the reins over this post, if
you'll give him a mouthful of hay."

The Carrier having brought it from his stable and set it before him,
they turned into the house.

"You are not married before noon," he said, "I think?"

"No," answered Tackleton. "Plenty of time. Plenty of time."

When they entered the kitchen, Tilly Slowboy was rapping at the
Stranger's door; which was only removed from it by a few steps. One of
her very red eyes (for Tilly had been crying all night long, because her
mistress cried) was at the keyhole; and she was knocking very loud, and
seemed frightened.

"If you please I can't make nobody hear," said Tilly, looking round. "I
hope nobody an't gone and been and died if you please!"

This philanthropic wish Miss Slowboy emphasized with various new raps
and kicks at the door, which led to no result whatever.

"Shall I go?" said Tackleton. "It's curious."

The Carrier, who had turned his face from the door, signed him to go if
he would.

So Tackleton went to Tilly Slowboy's relief; and he too kicked and
knocked; and he too failed to get the least reply. But he thought of
trying the handle of the door; and, as it opened easily, he peeped in,
looked in, went in, and soon came running out again.

"John Peerybingle," said Tackleton in his ear, "I hope there has been
nothing--nothing rash in the night?"

The Carrier turned upon him quickly.

"Because he's gone!" said Tackleton; "and the window's open. I don't see
any marks--to be sure, it's almost on a level with the garden: but I was
afraid there might have been some--some scuffle. Eh?"

He nearly shut up the expressive eye altogether; he looked at him so
hard. And he gave his eye, and his face, and his whole person, a sharp
twist. As if he would have screwed the truth out of him.

"Make yourself easy," said the Carrier. "He went into that room last
night, without harm in word or deed from me, and no one has entered it
since. He is away of his own free-will. I'd go out gladly at that door,
and beg my bread from house to house, for life, if I could so change the
past that he had never come. But he has come and gone. And I have done
with him!"

"Oh!--Well, I think he has got off pretty easy," said Tackleton, taking
a chair.

The sneer was lost upon the Carrier, who sat down too, and shaded his
face with his hand, for some little time, before proceeding.

"You showed me last