this, he unhooked his nag from the wall, and clattered off to the
"Packhorse."

Griffith sat a moment stupefied, and then his face was convulsed by his
ruling passion. He wheeled his horse, gave him the spur, and galloped
after Carrick.

He soon came up with him, and yelled in his ear, "I'll teach you to spit
your wormwood in my cup of sorrow."

Carrick shook his fist defiantly, and spurred his horse in turn.

It was an exciting race, and a novel one, but soon decided. The great
black hunter went ahead, and still improved his advantage. Carrick,
purple with rage, was full a quarter of a mile behind, when Griffith
dashed furiously into the stable of the "Packhorse," and, leaving Black
Dick panting and covered with foam, ran in search of Mercy.

The girl told him she was in the dairy. He looked in at the window, and
there she was with her mother. With instinctive sense and fortitude she
had fled to work. She was trying to churn; but it would not do: she had
laid her shapely arm on the churn, and her head on it, and was crying.

Mrs. Vint was praising Carrick, and offering homely consolation.

"Ah, mother," sighed Mercy, "I could have made him happy. He does not
know that; and he has turned his back on content. What will become of
him?"

Griffith heard no more. He went round to the front door, and rushed in.

"Take your own way, Dame," said he, in great agitation. "Put up the
banns when you like. Sweetheart, wilt wed with me? I'll make thee the
best husband I can."

Mercy screamed faintly, and lifted up her hands; then she blushed and
trembled to her very finger ends; but it ended in smiles of joy and her
brow upon his shoulder.

In which attitude, with Mrs. Vint patting him approvingly on the back,
they were surprised by Paul Carrick. He came to the door, and there
stood aghast.

The young man stared ruefully at the picture, and then said, very dryly,
"I'm too late, methinks."

"That you be, Paul," said Mrs. Vint, cheerfully. "She is meat for your
master."

"Don't--you--never--come to me--to save your life--no more," blubbered
Paul, breaking down all of a sudden.

He then retired, little heeded, and came no more to the "Packhorse" for
several days.

CHAPTER XXIX.

It is desirable that improper marriages should never be solemnized; and
the Christian Church saw this, many hundred years ago, and ordained
that, before a marriage, the banns should be cried in a church three
Sundays, and any person ther