cy, you must thank that young
gentleman for having saved the life of your pastoral teacher, which act
will no doubt be remembered at the Great Day!"

As Lucy, looking towards the stranger, said something in compliment,
she observed a vague, and as it were covert smile upon his countenance,
which immediately and as if by sympathy conjured one to her own. The
hero of the adventure, however, in a very grave tone replied to her
compliment, at the same time bowing profoundly,--

"Mention it not, madam! I were unworthy of the name of a Briton and
a man, could I pass the highway without relieving the distress or
lightening the burden of a fellow-creature. And," continued the
stranger, after a momentary pause, colouring while he spoke, and
concluding in the high-flown gallantry of the day, "methinks it were
sufficient reward, had I saved the whole church instead of one of its
most valuable members, to receive the thanks of a lady whom I might
reasonably take for one of those celestial beings to whom we have been
piously taught that the Church is especially the care!"

Though there might have been something really ridiculous in this
overstrained compliment, coupled as it was with the preservation of Dr.
Slopperton, yet, coming from the mouth of one whom Lucy thought the very
handsomest person she had ever seen, it appeared to her anything but
absurd; and for a very long time afterwards her heart thrilled with
pleasure when she remembered that the cheek of the speaker had glowed,
and his voice had trembled as he spoke it.

The conversation now, turning from robbers in particular, dwelt upon
robberies in general. It was edifying to hear the honest indignation
with which the stranger spoke of the lawless depredators with whom the
country, in that day of Macheaths, was infested.

"A pack of infamous rascals!" said he, in a glow, "who attempt to
justify their misdeeds by the example of honest men, and who say
that they do no more than is done by lawyers and doctors, soldiers,
clergymen, and ministers of State. Pitiful delusion, or rather shameless
hypocrisy!"

"It all comes of educating the poor," said the doctor. "The moment they
pretend to judge the conduct of their betters, there's an end of all
order! They see nothing sacred in the laws, though we hang the dogs ever
so fast; and the very peers of the land, spiritual and temporal, cease
to be venerable in their eyes."

"Talking of peers," said Mrs. Slopperton, "I hear that