THEY ARE OFF.—THEY ARE MARRIED. 141

father, and he formed a plan, which, under the better
feeling inspired by the secret influence of this excel-
lent woman, was not without kindness. He gave a
sealed paper to the servant, which he ordered her
to give to the man, and then, after waiting to ascer-
tain that it was delivered into his hand, he took
leave of his bride, to meet her again only for the
marriage.

From the Forest Lodge he went to the Three
Queens, in Burton, where, as he expected, the poor
man with the camlet bag was not long in making his
appearance also. They had a long interview, which
ended apparently most amicably, They both left
Burton that night—Edwards by one coach, and his
son by another.

 

CHAPTER IV,
THEY ARE OFF.—THEY ARE MARRIED.

Ir was two days after this before he reached home.
He came by the Birmingham coach, but he was so
entirely his own master, that nobody ever thought
of asking wherefore he had been there. Reynolds,
however, who had been looking for him every hour
since the discovery he had made regarding his sister,
met him at the shop-door with that sort of impatient
good-news countenance, which seems to say, “ Here I
am! ask me what I have got totell!” But Williams
did not ask, and at last Reynolds, who could contain
no longer, invited him to a private conference, and
then began in a low voice of the most heartfelt joy—
“ I say, my good fellow, do you know that your sister
is in this town? The most beautiful little angel that
Cver was seen, and as good as she is beautiful | And