amation of "Saved! saved!" came forth from time to time, the
bystanders deemed it the utterance of gratitude for his own escape with
life.

But once only did any expression of irritation burst from him, it was
when Haggerstone pulled out his purse, and with an ostentatious display
of munificence asked him to name his recompense. "Take me home; take me
hence!" said Hans, impatiently. "Tell the rich 'Englander' that there
are wounds for which sorrow would be an ample cure, but there are others
which insult is sure to fester."

CHAPTER VIII. THE NIGHT EXCURSION

THE remainder of the day after the dwarf's misfortune was passed by Lady
Hester in a state of feverish irritability. Sorry as she felt for the
"sad accident," her own phrase, she was still more grieved for the
effects it produced upon herself; the jar and worry of excited feelings,
the uncomfortableness of being anxious about anything or anybody.

Epicurean in her code of manners as of morals, she detested whatever
occasioned even a passing sensation of dissatisfaction, and hence upon
the luckless colonel, the author of the present evil, fell no measured
share of her displeasure. "He should have taken precautions against
such a mishap; he ought to have had sufficient presence of mind to have
arrested his aim; he should have fired in the air, in fact, he ought to
have done anything but what he did do;" which was to agitate the nerves,
and irritate the sensibilities, of a fine lady.

The conduct of the family, too, was the very reverse of soothing. Sir
Stafford's gout had relapsed on hearing of the event; George Onslow's
anger was such that he could not trust himself to speak of the
occurrence; and as for Sydney, though full of sorrow for the dwarf, she
had not a single sympathy to bestow upon her stepmother. "Were there
ever such people?" she asked herself again and again. Not one had taken
the trouble to ask how she bore up, or express the slightest anxiety for
the consequences the shock might occasion her.

Grounsell was actually insufferable; and even hinted that if anything
untoward were to happen, the very grave question might arise as to
the guilt of the parties who appeared in arms without a Government
permission. He reminded her Ladyship that they were not in England, but
in a land beset with its own peculiar prejudices and notions, and in
nothing so rigorous as in the penalties on accidents that took their
origin in illegality.

As for the wou