\"Thataccountsforyournotknowingthemeaningoftawse，\"
saidI；\"hadyoureceivedtherudimentsofaclassicaleducationattheHighSchool，youwouldhaveknownthemeaningoftawsefullwell。Itisaleathernthong，withwhichrefractoryurchinsarerecalledtoasenseoftheirdutybythedominie。Tau—tawse—howsingular！\"
\"Icannotseewhatthetwowordshaveincommon，exceptaslightagreementinsound。\"
\"Youwillseetheconnection，\"saidI，\"whenIinformyouthatthethong，fromthemiddletothebottom，iscutorslitintotwoorthreeparts，fromwhichslitsorcuts，unlessI
amverymuchmistaken，itderivesitsname—tawse，athongwithslitsorcuts，usedforchastisingdisorderlyurchinsattheHighSchool，fromtheFrenchtailler，tocut；evidentlyconnectedwiththeChinesetau，aknife—howveryextraordinary！\"
CHAPTERXXXIII
Convalescence—TheSurgeon’sBill—LetterofRecommendation—CommencementoftheOldMan’sHistory。
TWOdays—threedayspassedaway—andIstillremainedatthehouseofmyhospitableentertainer；mybruisedlimbrapidlyrecoveringthepowerofperformingitsfunctions。I
passedmytimeagreeablyenough，sometimesinmychamber，communingwithmyownthoughts；sometimesinthestable，attendingto，andnotunfrequentlyconversingwith，myhorse；
andatmeal—time—forIseldomsawhimatanyother—
discoursingwiththeoldgentleman，sometimesontheChinesevocabulary，sometimesonChinesesyntax，andonceortwiceonEnglishhorseflesh；thoughonthislattersubject，notwithstandinghisdescentfromaraceofhorse—traders，hedidnotenterintowithmuchalacrity。Asasmallrequitalforhiskindness，Igavehimoneday，afterdinner，unasked，abriefaccountofmyhistoryandpursuits。Helistenedwithattention；andwhenitwasconcluded，thankedmefortheconfidencewhichIhadreposedinhim。\"Suchconduct，\"saidhe，\"deservesareturn。Iwilltellyoumyownhistory；itisbrief，butmayperhapsnotproveuninterestingtoyou—
thoughtherelationofitwillgivemesomepain。\"\"Pray，then，donotreciteit，\"saidI。\"Yes，\"saidtheoldman，\"I
willtellyou，forIwishyoutoknowit。\"Hewasabouttobegin，whenhewasinterruptedbythearrivalofthesurgeon。
Thesurgeonexaminedintothestateofmybruisedlimb，andtoldme，whatindeedIalreadywellknew，thatitwasrapidlyimproving。\"Youwillnotevenrequireasling，\"saidhe，\"toridetoHorncastle。Whendoyouproposegoing？\"hedemanded。
\"WhendoyouthinkImayventure？\"Ireplied。\"Ithink，ifyouareatolerablygoodhorseman，youmaymountthedayafterto—morrow，\"answeredthemedicalman。\"By—the—bye，areyouacquaintedwithanybodyatHorncastle？\"\"Withnolivingsoul，\"Ianswered。\"Thenyouwouldscarcelyfindstable—roomforyourhorse。ButIamhappytobeabletoassistyou。I
haveafriendtherewhokeepsasmallinn，andwho，duringthetimeofthefair，keepsastallvacantforanyquadrupedImaybring，untilheknowswhetherIamcomingornot。I
willgiveyoualettertohim，andhewillseeaftertheaccommodationofyourhorse。To—morrowIwillpayyouafarewellvisit，andbringyoutheletter。\"\"Thankyou，\"saidI；\"anddonotforgettobringyourbill。\"Thesurgeonlookedattheoldman，whogavehimapeculiarnod。\"Oh！\"
saidhe，inreplytome，\"forthelittleserviceIhaverenderedyou，Irequirenoremuneration。Youareinmyfriend’shouse，andheandIunderstandeachother。\"\"I
neverreceivesuchfavours，\"saidI，\"asyouhaverenderedme，withoutremuneratingthem；thereforeIshallexpectyourbill。\"\"Oh！justasyouplease，\"saidthesurgeon；andshakingmebythehandmorewarmlythanhehadhithertodone，hetookhisleave。
Ontheeveningofthenextday，thelastwhichIspentwithmykindentertainer，Isatatteawithhiminalittlesummer—houseinhisgarden，partiallyshadedbytheboughsofalargefig—tree。Thesurgeonhadshortlybeforepaidmehisfarewellvisit，andhadbroughtmetheletterofintroductiontohisfriendatHorncastle，andalsohisbill，whichIfoundanythingbutextravagant。Afterwehadeachrespectivelydrankthecontentsoftwocups—anditmaynotbeamissheretoinformthereaderthatthoughItookcreamwithmytea，asIalwaysdowhenIcanprocurethataddition，theoldman，likemostpeoplebredupinthecountry，drankhiswithoutit—hethusaddressedme：—\"Iam，asItoldyouonthenightofyouraccident，thesonofabreederofhorses，arespectableandhonestman。WhenIwasabouttwentyhedied，leavingme，hisonlychild，acomfortableproperty，consistingofabouttwohundredacresoflandandsomefifteenhundredpoundsinmoney。Mymotherhaddiedaboutthreeyearspreviously。I
feltthedeathofmymotherkeenly，butthatofmyfatherlessthanwasmyduty；indeed，truthcompelsmetoacknowledgethatIscarcelyregrettedhisdeath。ThecauseofthiswantofproperfilialfeelingwastheoppositionwhichIhadexperiencedfromhiminanaffairwhichdeeplyconcernedme。Ihadformedanattachmentforayoungfemaleintheneighbourhood，who，thoughpoor，wasofhighlyrespectablebirth，herfatherhavingbeenacurateoftheEstablishedChurch。Shewas，atthetimeofwhichIamspeaking，anorphan，havinglostbothherparents，andsupportedherselfbykeepingasmallschool。Myattachmentwasreturned，andwehadpledgedourvows，butmyfather，whocouldnotreconcilehimselftoherlackoffortune，forbadeourmarriageinthemostpositiveterms。Hewaswrong，forshewasafortuneinherself—amiableandaccomplished。Oh！
Icannottellyouallshewas—\"andheretheoldmandrewhishandacrosshiseyes。\"Bythedeathofmyfather，theonlyobstacletoourhappinessappearedtoberemoved。Weagreed，therefore，thatourmarriageshouldtakeplacewithinthecourseofayear；andIforthwithcommencedenlargingmyhouseandgettingmyaffairsinorder。HavingbeenleftintheeasycircumstanceswhichIhavedescribed，Ideterminedtofollownobusiness，buttopassmylifeinastrictlydomesticmanner，andtobevery，veryhappy。Amongstotherpropertyderivedfrommyfatherwereseveralhorses，whichI
disposedofinthisneighbourhood，withtheexceptionoftworemarkablyfineones，whichIdeterminedtotaketothenextfairatHorncastle，theonlyplacewhereIexpectedtobeabletoobtainwhatIconsideredtobetheirfullvalue。Atlengththetimearrivedforthecommencementofthefair，whichwaswithinthreemonthsoftheperiodwhichmybelovedandmyselfhadfixeduponforthecelebrationofournuptials。TothefairIwent，acoupleoftrustymenfollowingmewiththehorses。Isoonfoundapurchaserfortheanimals，aportly，plausibleperson，ofaboutforty，dressedinablueridingcoat，browntopboots，andleatherbreeches。Therewasastrange—lookingurchinwithhim，attiredinnearlysimilarfashion，withabeaminoneofhiseyes，whocalledhimfather。Themanpaidmeforthepurchaseinbank—notes—threefifty—poundnotesforthetwohorses。Aswewereabouttotakeleaveofeachother，hesuddenlyproducedanotherfifty—poundnote，inquiringwhetherIcouldchangeit，complaining，atthesametime，ofthedifficultyofprocuringchangeinthefair。AsIhappenedtohaveplentyofsmallmoneyinmypossession，andasIfeltobligedtohimforhavingpurchasedmyhorsesatwhatI
consideredtobeagoodprice，IinformedhimthatIshouldbeveryhappytoaccommodatehim；soIchangedhimthenote，andhe，havingtakenpossessionofthehorses，wenthisway，andImyselfreturnedhome。
\"Amonthpassed；duringthistimeIpaidawaytwoofthenoteswhichIhadreceivedatHorncastlefromthedealer—
oneoftheminmyimmediateneighbourhood，andtheotheratatownaboutfifteenmilesdistant，towhichIhadrepairedforthepurposeofpurchasingsomefurniture。Allthingsseemedtobegoingonmostprosperously，andIfeltquitehappy，whenonemorning，asIwasoverlookingsomeworkmenwhowereemployedaboutmyhouse，Iwasaccostedbyaconstable，whoinformedmethathewassenttorequestmyimmediateappearancebeforeaneighbouringbenchofmagistrates。
ConcludingthatIwasmerelysummonedonsomeunimportantbusinessconnectedwiththeneighbourhood，Ifeltnosurprise，andforthwithdepartedincompanywiththeofficer。
Thedemeanourofthemanuponthewaystruckmeassomewhatsingular。Ihadfrequentlyspokentohimbefore，andhadalwaysfoundhimcivilandrespectful，buthewasnowreservedandsullen，andrepliedtotwoorthreequestionswhichIputtohiminanythingbutacourteousmanner。Onarrivingattheplacewherethemagistratesweresitting—aninnatasmalltownabouttwomilesdistant—Ifoundamorethanusualnumberofpeopleassembled，whoappearedtobeconversingwithconsiderableeagerness。Atsightofmetheybecamesilent，butcrowdedaftermeasIfollowedthemanintothemagistrates’room。ThereIfoundthetradesmantowhomIhadpaidthenoteforthefurnitureatthetownfifteenmilesoffinattendance，accompaniedbyanagentoftheBankofEngland；theformer，itseems，hadpaidthenoteintoaprovincialbank，theproprietorsofwhich，discoveringittobeaforgery，hadforthwithwrittenuptotheBankofEngland，whohadsentdowntheiragenttoinvestigatethematter。Athirdindividualstoodbesidethem—thepersoninmyownimmediateneighbourhoodtowhomIhadpaidthesecondnote；this，bysomemeansorother，beforethecomingdownoftheagent，hadfounditswaytothesameprovincialbank，andalsobeingpronouncedaforgery，ithadspeedilybeentracedtothepersontowhomIhadpaidit。Itwasowingtotheapparitionofthissecondnotethattheagenthaddetermined，withoutfurtherinquiry，tocausemetobesummonedbeforetheruraltribunal。
\"Inafewwordsthemagistrates’clerkgavemetounderstandthestateofthecase。Iwasfilledwithsurpriseandconsternation。Iknewmyselftobeperfectlyinnocentofanyfraudulentintention，butatthetimeofwhichIamspeakingitwasamatterfraughtwiththegreatestdangertobemixedup，howeverinnocently，withthepassingoffalsemoney。Thelawwithrespecttoforgerywasterriblysevere，andtheinnocentaswellastheguiltyoccasionallysuffered。OfthisIwasnotaltogetherignorant；unfortunately，however，inmytransactionswiththestranger，theideaoffalsenotesbeingofferedtome，andmybeingbroughtintotroublebymeansofthem，neverenteredmymind。Recoveringmyselfalittle，IstatedthatthenotesinquestionweretwoofthreenoteswhichIhadreceivedatHorncastle，forapairofhorses，whichitwaswellknownIhadcarriedthither。
\"Thereupon，Iproducedfrommypocket—bookthethirdnote，whichwasforthwithpronouncedaforgery。Ihadscarcelyproducedthethirdnote，whenIrememberedtheonewhichI
hadchangedfortheHorncastledealer，andwiththeremembrancecamethealmostcertainconvictionthatitwasalsoaforgery；Iwastemptedforamomenttoproduceit，andtoexplainthecircumstance—wouldtoGodIhaddoneso！—
butshameattheideaofhavingbeensowretchedlydupedpreventedme，andtheopportunitywaslost。Imustconfessthattheagentofthebankbehaved，uponthewhole，inaveryhandsomemanner；hesaidthatasitwasquiteevidentthatI
haddisposedofcertainhorsesatthefair，itwasveryprobablethatImighthavereceivedthenotesinquestioninexchangeforthem，andthathewaswilling，ashehadreceivedaveryexcellentaccountofmygeneralconduct，topressthematternofarther，thatis，provided—\"Andherehestopped。Thereupon，oneofthethreemagistrates，whowerepresent，askedmewhetherIchancedtohaveanymoreofthesespuriousnotesinmypossession。Hecertainlyhadarighttoaskthequestion；buttherewassomethingpeculiarinhistone—insinuatingsuspicion。Itiscertainlydifficulttojudgeofthemotiveswhichruleaperson’sconduct，butI
cannothelpimaginingthathewassomewhatinfluencedinhisbehaviouronthatoccasion，whichwasanythingbutfriendly，bymyhavingrefusedtosellhimthehorsesatapricelessthanthatwhichIexpectedtogetatthefair；bethisasitmay，thequestionfilledmewithembarrassment，andI
bitterlyrepentednothavingatfirstbeenmoreexplicit。
Thereuponthemagistrateinthesamekindoftone，demandedtoseemypocket—book。Iknewthattodemurwouldbeuseless，andproducedit，andtherewith，amongsttwoorthreesmallcountrynotes，appearedthefourthwhichIhadreceivedfromtheHorncastledealer。Theagenttookitupandexamineditwithattention。’Well，isitagenuinenote？’
askedthemagistrate。’Iamsorrytosaythatitisnot，’
saidtheagent；’itisaforgery，liketheotherthree。’Themagistrateshruggedhisshoulders，asindeeddidseveralpeopleintheroom。’Aregulardealerinforgednotes，’saidapersonclosebehindme；’whowouldhavethoughtit？’
\"Seeingmattersbegintolooksoserious，Iarousedmyself，andendeavouredtospeakinmyownbehalf，givingacandidaccountofthemannerinwhichIbecamepossessedofthenotes；butmyexplanationdidnotappeartomeetmuchcredit；
themagistrate，towhomIhaveinparticularalluded，asked，whyIhadnotatoncestatedthefactofmyhavingreceivedafourthnote；andtheagent，thoughinaveryquiettone，observedthathecouldnothelpthinkingitsomewhatstrangethatIshouldhavechangedanoteofsomuchvalueforaperfectstranger，evensupposingthathehadpurchasedmyhorses，andhadpaidmetheirvalueinhardcash；andI
noticedthathelaidparticularemphasisonthelastwords。
ImighthaveobservedthatIwasaninexperiencedyoungman，who，meaningnoharmmyself，suspectednoneinothers，butI
wasconfused，stunned，andmytongueseemedtocleavetotheroofofmymouth。ThemenwhohadtakenmyhorsestoHorncastle，andforwhomIhadsent，astheylivedcloseathand，nowarrived，buttheevidencewhichtheycouldgivewasanythingbutconclusiveinmyfavour；theyhadseenmeincompanywithanindividualatHorncastle，towhom，bymyorders，theyhaddeliveredcertainhorses，buttheyhadseennopartofthemoneytransaction；thefellow，whetherfromdesignornot，havingtakenmeasideintoaretiredplace，wherehehadpaidmethethreespuriousnotes，andinducedmetochangethefourth，whichthroughouttheaffairwaswhatboremostmateriallyagainstme。HowmattersmighthaveterminatedIdonotknow，Imighthavegonetoprison，andI
mighthavebeen—justthen，whenImostneededafriend，andleastexpectedtofindone，forthoughamongstthosepresenttherewereseveralwhoweremyneighbours，andwhohadprofessedfriendshipforme，noneofthemwhentheysawthatIneededsupportandencouragement，cameforwardtoyieldmeany，but，onthecontrary，appearedbytheirlookstoenjoymyterrorandconfusion—justthenafriendenteredtheroominthepersonofthesurgeonoftheneighbourhood，thefatherofhimwhohasattendedyou；hewasnotonveryintimatetermswithme，buthehadoccasionallyspokentome，andhadattendedmyfatherinhisdyingillness，andchancingtohearthatIwasintrouble，henowhastenedtoassistme。Afterashortpreamble，inwhichheapologizedtothebenchforinterfering，hebeggedtobeinformedofthestateofthecase，whereuponthematterwaslaidbeforehiminallitsdetails。Hewasnotslowintakingafairviewofit，andspokewellandeloquentlyinmybehalf—insistingontheimprobabilitythatapersonofmyhabitsandpositionwouldbewilfullymixedupwithatransactionlikethatofwhichitappearedIwassuspected—adding，thatashewasfullyconvincedofmyinnocence，hewasreadytoenterintoanysuretywithrespecttomyappearanceatanytimetoansweranythingwhichmightbelaidtomycharge。Thislastobservationhadparticulareffect，andashewasapersonuniversallyrespected，bothforhisskillinhisprofessionandhisgeneraldemeanour，peoplebegantothinkthatapersoninwhomhetookaninterestcouldscarcelybeconcernedinanythingcriminal，andthoughmyfriendthemagistrate—Icallhimsoironically—madetwoorthreedemurs，itwasatlastagreedbetweenhimandhisbrethrenofthebench，that，forthepresent，Ishouldbemerelycalledupontoenterintomyownrecognizanceforthesumoftwohundredpounds，toappearwheneveritshouldbedeemedrequisitetoenterintoanyfurtherinvestigationofthematter。
\"SoIwaspermittedtodepartfromthetribunalofpettyjusticewithouthandcuffs，anduncollaredbyaconstable；butpeoplelookedcoldlyandsuspiciouslyuponme。ThefirstthingIdidwastohastentothehouseofmybeloved，inordertoinformherofeverycircumstanceattendingthetransaction。Ifoundher，buthow？Amaliciousfemaleindividualhadhurriedtoherwithadistortedtale，totheeffectthatIhadbeentakenupasanuttererofforgednotes；thatanimmensenumberhadbeenfoundinmypossession；thatIwasalreadycommitted，andthatprobablyI
shouldbeexecuted。Myaffiancedonetenderlylovedme，andherconstitutionwasdelicate；fitsucceededfit；shebrokeablood—vessel，andIfoundherdelugedinblood；thesurgeonhadbeensentfor；hecameandaffordedhereverypossiblerelief。Iwasdistracted；hebademehavehope，butI
observedhelookedverygrave。
\"Bytheskillofthesurgeon，thepoorgirlwassavedinthefirstinstancefromthearmsofdeath，andforafewweekssheappearedtoberapidlyrecovering；bydegrees，however，shebecamemelancholy；awormpreyeduponherspirit；aslowfevertookpossessionofherframe。Isubsequentlylearnedthatthesamemaliciousfemalewhohadfirstcarriedtoheranexaggeratedaccountoftheaffair，andwhowasadistantrelativeofherown，frequentlyvisitedher，anddidallinherpowertoexciteherfearswithrespecttoitseventualtermination。Timepassedoninaverywretchedmanner。Ourfriendthesurgeonshowingtousbotheverymarkofkindnessandattention。
\"Itwasowingtothisexcellentmanthatmyinnocencewaseventuallyestablished。HavingbeencalledtoatownonthebordersofYorkshiretoamedicalconsultation，hechancedtobetakingaglassofwinewiththelandlordoftheinnatwhichhestopped，whenthewaiterbroughtinanotetobechanged，saying’ThattheQuakergentleman，whohadbeenforsomedaysinthehouse，andwasabouttodepart，hadsentittobechanged，inorderthathemightpayhisbill。’Thelandlordtookthenote，andlookedatit。’Afifty—poundbill，’saidhe；’Idon’tlikechangingbillsofthatamount，lesttheyshouldprovebadones；however，asitcomesfromaQuakergentleman，Isupposeitisallright。’Thementionofafifty—poundnotearousedtheattentionofmyfriend，andherequestedtobepermittedtolookatit；hehadscarcelyseenit，whenhewasconvincedthatitwasoneofthesamedescriptionasthosewhichhadbroughtmeintotrouble，asitcorrespondedwiththemintwoparticularfeatures，whichtheagentofthebankhadpointedouttohimandothersasevidenceoftheirspuriousness。Myfriend，withoutamoment’shesitation，informedthelandlordthatthenotewasabadone，expressingatthesametimeagreatwishtoseetheQuakergentlemanwhowantedtohaveitchanged。’Thatyoucaneasilydo，’saidthelandlord，andforthwithconductedhimintothecommonroom，wherehesawarespectable—lookingman，dressedlikeaQuaker，andseeminglyaboutsixtyyearsofage。
\"Myfriend，afterashortapology，showedhimthenotewhichheheldinhishand，statingthathehadnodoubtitwasaspuriousone，andbeggedtobeinformedwherehehadtakenit，adding，thataparticularfriendofhiswasatpresentintrouble，owingtohishavingtakensimilarnotesfromastrangeratHorncastle；butthathehopedthathe，theQuaker，couldgiveinformation，bymeansofwhichtheguiltyparty，orparties，couldbearrested。AtthementionofHorncastle，itappearedtomyfriendthattheQuakergaveaslightstart。Attheconclusionofthisspeech，however，heanswered，withgreattranquillity，thathehadreceiveditinthewayofbusinessat—，namingoneoftheprincipaltownsinYorkshire，fromaveryrespectableperson，whosenamehewasperfectlywillingtocommunicate，andlikewisehisown，whichhesaidwasJames，andthathewasamerchantresidingatLiverpool；thathewouldwritetohisfriendat—，requestinghimtomakeinquiriesonthesubject；thatjustatthatmomenthewasinahurrytodepart，havingsomeparticularbusinessatatownabouttenmilesoff，togotowhichhehadbespokenapost—chaiseofthelandlord；thatwithrespecttothenote，itwasdoubtlessaverydisagreeablethingtohaveasuspiciousoneinhispossession，butthatitwouldmakelittledifferencetohim，ashehadplentyofothermoney，andthereuponhepulledoutapurse，containingvariousothernotes，andsomegold，observing，’thathisonlymotiveforwishingtochangetheothernotewasadesiretobewellprovidedwithchange；’andfinally，thatiftheyhadanysuspicionwithrespecttohim，hewasperfectlywillingtoleavethenoteintheirpossessiontillheshouldreturn，whichheintendedtodoinaboutafortnight。TherewassomuchplausibilityinthespeechoftheQuaker，andhisappearanceandbehaviourweresoperfectlyrespectable，thatmyfriendfeltalmostashamedofthesuspicionwhichatfirsthehadentertainedofhim，though，atthesametime，hefeltanunaccountableunwillingnesstoletthemandepartwithoutsomefurtherinterrogation。Thelandlord，however，whodidnotwishtodisobligeonewhohadbeen，andmightprobablybeagain，aprofitablecustomer，declaredthathewasperfectlysatisfied；andthathehadnowishtodetainthenote，whichhemadenodoubtthegentlemanhadreceivedinthewayofbusiness，andthatasthematterconcernedhimalone，hewouldleaveittohimtomakethenecessaryinquiries。’Justasyouplease，friend，’saidtheQuaker，pocketingthesuspiciousnote，’Iwillnowpaymybill。’Thereuponhedischargedthebillwithafive—poundnote，whichhebeggedthelandlordtoinspectcarefully，andwithtwopiecesofgold。
\"Thelandlordhadjusttakenthemoney，receiptedthebill，andwasbowingtohiscustomer，whenthedooropened，andalad，dressedinakindofgreylivery，appeared，andinformedtheQuakerthatthechaisewasready。’Isthatboyyourservant？’saidthesurgeon。’Heis，friend，’saidtheQuaker。’Hastthouanyreasonforaskingmethatquestion？’
’Andhashebeenlonginyourservice？’’Severalyears，’
repliedtheQuaker，’Itookhimintomyhouseoutofcompassion，hebeinganorphan，butasthechaiseiswaiting，Iwillbidtheefarewell。’’IamafraidImuststopyourjourneyforthepresent，’saidthesurgeon；’thatboyhasexactlythesameblemishintheeyewhichaboyhadwhowasincompanywiththemanatHorncastle，fromwhommyfriendreceivedtheforgednotes，andwhotherepassedforhisson。’
’Iknownothingaboutthat，’saidtheQuaker，’butIamdeterminedtobedetainedherenolonger，afterthesatisfactoryaccountwhichIhavegivenastothenote’scomingintomypossession。’Hethenattemptedtoleavetheroom，butmyfrienddetainedhim，astruggleensued，duringwhichawigwhichtheQuakerworefelloff，whereuponheinstantlyappearedtolosesometwentyyearsofhisage。
’Knockthefellowdown，father，’saidtheboy，’I’llhelpyou。’
\"And，forsooth，thepretendedQuakertooktheboy’sadvice，andknockedmyfrienddowninatwinkling。Thelandlord，however，andwaiter，seeinghowmattersstood，instantlylaidholdofhim；buttherecanbenodoubtthathewouldhaveescapedfromthewholethree，hadnotcertainguestswhowereinthehouse，hearingthenoise，rushedin，andhelpedtosecurehim。Theboywastruetohisword，assistinghimtothebestofhisability，flinginghimselfbetweenthelegsofhisfather’sassailants，causingseveralofthemtostumbleandfall。Atlength，thefellowwassecured，andledbeforeamagistrate；theboy，towhomhewasheardtosaysomethingwhichnobodyunderstood，andtowhom，aftertheman’scapture，noonepaidmuchattention，wasnomoreseen。
\"Therest，asfarasthismanwasconcerned，maybetoldinafewwords；nothingtocriminatehimwasfoundonhisperson，butonhisbaggagebeingexamined，aquantityofspuriousnoteswerediscovered。Muchofhishardihoodnowforsookhim，andinthehopeofsavinghislifehemadesomeveryimportantdisclosures；amongstotherthings，heconfessedthatitwashewhohadgivenmethenotesinexchangeforthehorses，andalsothenotetobechanged。Hewassubsequentlytriedontwoindictments，inthesecondofwhichIappearedagainsthim。Hewascondemnedtodie；but，inconsiderationofthedisclosureshehadmade，hissentencewascommutedtoperpetualtransportation。
\"Myinnocencewasthusperfectlyestablishedbeforetheeyesoftheworld，andallmyfriendshastenedtocongratulateme。
Therewasonewhocongratulatedmemorethanalltherest—
itwasmybelovedone，but—but—shewasdying—\"
Heretheoldmandrewhishandbeforehiseyes，andremainedforsometimewithoutspeaking；atlengthheremovedhishand，andcommencedagainwithabrokenvoice：\"YouwillpardonmeifIhurryoverthispartofmystory，Iamunabletodwelluponit。HowdwelluponaperiodwhenIsawmyonlyearthlytreasurepineawaygraduallydaybyday，andknewthatnothingcouldsaveher！Shesawmyagony，anddidallshecouldtoconsoleme，sayingthatshewasherselfquiteresigned。Alittletimebeforeherdeathsheexpressedawishthatweshouldbeunited。Iwastoohappytocomplywithherrequest。Wewereunited，Ibroughthertothishouse，where，inlessthanaweek，sheexpiredinmyarms。\"
