58 THE HISTORY OF DAME MITCHELL

the trick, he found himself immured in the bag which
was meant to be his
grave. Sharpphiz,
who had hid himself,
suddenly appeared,
armed with two
enormous clubs, one
of which he offered
his accomplice ; and,
then seizing the bag,
he cried out,““Come!
now to work, and
give no quarter.”

Nicholas did not
hear him—he was
quite bewildered: his haggard eyes rolled in their sockets,
his face was deadly pale, his mouth open, his arm unnerved.
Daddy Sharpphiz, stimulated by the hope of immediate
vengeance, did not notice his companion; but throwing down
the bag on the ground, he raised his stick, and was about
to apply it lustily, when the small garden-door was opened. .

“‘ Cursed interruption!” muttered he. “ Nicholas, hide
yourself in the thicket; I will join you directly;” and
then going up to the person who had just entered the gar-
den, he was petrified to behold Dame Mitchell. At first
he fancied she had been led to return by some fleeting
suspicion, or instinctive presentiment; but her first words
set his mind at rest on that score.

“JT am obliged to put off my walk, for I have just
descried Lady Greenford’s carriage; it is obliged to go a
roundabout way, on account of the mending of the road,
and I have managed to get here before her, by coming in
through the little gate. Come, Mr. Sharpphiz; come, as
fast as you can, to meet our good mistress.”

*T will follow you directly, madam,” said the butler;
then using his hand as a speaking trumpet, he cried out to
Nicholas, “ Strike on yourself! strike till the cat has