fall　more　completely；　she　became　aware　　of　an　unusual　brightness　and　bustle。　　A　post…chaise　stood　in　　the　yard；　its　lamps　already　lighted：　light　shone　hospitably　　in　the　windows　and　from　the　open　door；　moving　lights　and　　shadows　testified　to　the　activity　of　servants　bearing　　lanterns。　　The　clank　of　pails；　the　stamping　of　hoofs　on　the　　firm　causeway；　the　jingle　of　harness；　and；　last　of　all；　the　　energetic　hissing　of　a　groom；　began　to　fall　upon　her　ear。　　By　　the　stir　you　would　have　thought　the　mail　was　at　the　door；　but　　it　was　still　too　early　in　the　night。　　The　down　mail　was　not　　due　at　the　'Green　Dragon'　for　hard　upon　an　hour；　the　up　mail　　from　Scotland　not　before　two　in　the　black　morning。
  Nance　entered　the　yard　somewhat　dazzled。　　Sam；　the　tall　　ostler；　was　polishing　a　curb…chain　wit　sand；　the　lantern　at　　his　feet　letting　up　spouts　of　candle…light　through　the　holes　　with　which　its　conical　roof　was　peppered。
  'Hey；　miss；'　said　he　jocularly；　'you　won't　look　at　me　any　　more；　now　you　have　gentry　at　the　castle。'
  Her　cheeks　burned　with　anger。
  'That's　my　lord's　chay；'　the　man　continued；　nodding　at　the　　chaise；　'Lord　Windermoor's。　　Came　all　in　a　fluster　…　dinner；　　bowl　of　punch；　and　put　the　horses　to。　For　all　the　world　like　　a　runaway　match；　my　dear　…　bar　the　bride。　　He　brought　Mr。　　Archer　in　the　chay　with　him。'
  'Is　that　Holdaway？'　cried　the　landlord　from　the　lighted　　entry；　where　he　stood　shading　his　eyes。
  'Only　me；　sir；'　answered　Nance。
  'O；　you；　Miss　Nance；'　he　said。　　'Well；　come　in　quick；　my　　pretty。　　My　lord　is　waiting　for　your　uncle。'
  And　he　ushered　Nance　into　a　room　cased　with　yellow　wainscot　　and　lighted　by　tall　candles；　where　two　gentlemen　sat　at　a　　table　finishing　a　bowl　of　punch。　　One　of　these　was　stout；　　elderly；　and　irascible；　with　a　face　like　a　full　moon；　well　　dyed　with　liquor；　thick　tremulous　lips；　a　short；　purple　hand；　　in　which　he　brandished　a　long　pipe；　and　an　abrupt　and　　gobbling　utterance。　　This　was　my　Lord　Windermoor。　　In　his　　companion　Nance　beheld　a　younger　man；　tall；　quiet；　grave；　　demurely　dressed；　and　wearing　his　own　hair。　　Her　glance　but　　lighted　on　him；　and　she　flushed；　for　in　that　second　she　made　　sure　that　she　had　twice　betrayed　herself　…　betrayed　by　the　　involuntary　flash　of　her　black　eyes　her　secret　impatience　to　　behold　this　new　companion；　and；　what　was　far　worse；　betrayed　　her　disappointment　in　the　realisation　of　her　dreams。　　He；　　meanwhile；　as　if　unconscious；　continued　to　regard　her　with　　unmoved　decorum。
  'O；　a　man　of　wood；'　thought　Nance。
  'What　…　what？'　said　his　lordship。　　'Who　is　this？'
  'If　you　please；　my　lord；　I　am　Holdaway's　niece；'　replied　　Nance；　with　a　curtsey。
  'Should　have　been　here　himself；'　observed　his　lordship。　　　'Well；　you　tell　Holdaway　that　I'm　aground；　not　a　stiver　…　not　　a　stiver。　　I'm　running　from　the　beagles　…　going　abroad；　tell　　Holdaway。　　And　he　need　look　for　no　more　wages：　glad　of　'em　　myself；　if　I　could　get　'em。　　He　can　live　in　the　castle　if　he　　likes；　or　go　to　the　devil。　　O；　and　here　is　Mr。　Archer；　and　I　　recommend　him　to　take　him　in　…　a　friend　of　mine　…　and　Mr。　　Archer　will　pay；　as　I　wrote。　　And　I　regard　that　in　the　light　　of　a　precious　good　thing　for　Holdaway；　let　me　tell　you；　and　a　　set…off　against　the　wages。'
  'But　O；　my　lord！'　cried　Nance；　'we　live　upon　the　wages；　and　　what　are　we　to　do　without？'
  'What　am　I　to　do？　…　what　am　I　to　do？'　replied　Lord　Windermoor　　with　some　exasperation。　　'I　have　no　wages。　　And　there　is　Mr。　　Archer。　　And　if　Holdaway　doesn't　like　it；　he　can　go　to　the　　devil；　and　you　with　him！　…　and　you　with　him！'
  'And　yet；　my　lord；'　said　Mr。　Archer；　'these　good　people　will　　have　as　keen　a　sense　of　loss　as　you　or　I；　keener；　perhaps；　　since　they　have　done　nothing　to　deserve　it。'
  'Deserve　it？'　cried　the　peer。　　'What？　　What？　　If　a　rascally　　highwayman　comes　up　to　me　with　a　confounded　pistol；　do　you　　say　that　I've　deserved　it？　　How　often　am　I　to　tell　you；　sir；　　that　I　was　cheated　…　that　I　was　cheated？'
  'You　are　happy　in　the　belief；'　returned　Mr。　Archer　gravely。
  'Archer；　you　would　be　the　death　of　me！'　exclaimed　his　　lordship。　　'You　know　you're　drunk；　you　know　it；　sir；　and　yet　　you　can't　get　up　a　spark　of　animation。'
  'I　have　drunk　fair；　my　lord；'　replied　the　younger　man；　'but　I　　own　I　am　conscious　of　no　exhilaration。'
  'If　you　had　as　black　a　look…out　as　me；　sir；'　cried　the　peer；　　'you　would　be　very　glad　of　a　little　innocent　exhilaration；　　let　me　tell　you。　　I　am　glad　of　it　…　glad　of　it；　and　I　only　　wish　I　was　drunker。　　For　let　me　tell　you　it's　a　cruel　hard　　thing　upon　a　man　of　my　time　of　life　and　my　position；　to　be　　brought　down　to　beggary　because　the　world　is　full　of　thieves　　and　rascals　…　thieves　and　rascals。　　What？　　For　all　I　know；　　you　may　be　a　thief　and　a　rascal　yourself；　and　I　would　fight　　you　for　a　pinch　of　snuff　…　a　pinch　of　snuff；'　exclaimed　his　　lordship。
  Here　Mr。　Archer　turned　to　Nance　Holdaway　with　a　pleasant　　smile；　so　full　of　sweetness；　kindness；　and　composure　that；　at　　one　bound；　her　dreams　returned　to　her。　　'My　good　Miss　　Holdaway；'　said　he；　'if　you　are　willing　to　show　me　the　road；　　I　am　even　eager　to　be　gone。　　As　for　his　lordship　and　myself；　　compose　yourself；　there　is　no　fear；　this　is　his　lordship's　　way。'
  'What？　what？'　cried　his　lordship。　　'My　way？　　Ish　no　such　a　　thing；　my　way。'
  'Come；　my　lord；'　cried　Archer；　'you　and　I　very　thoroughly　　understand　each　other；　and　let　me　suggest；　it　is　time　that　　both　of　us　were　gone。　　The　mail　will　soon　be　due。　　Here；　　then；　my　lord；　I　take　my　leave　of　you；　with　the　most　earnest　　assurance　of　my　gratitude　for　the　past；　and　a　sincere　offer　　of　any　services　I　may　be　able　to　render　in　the　future。'
  'Archer；'　exclaimed　Lord　Windermoor；　'I　love　you　like　a　son。　　　Le'　's　have　another　bowl。'
  'My　lord；　for　both　our　sakes；　you　will　excuse　me；'　replied　　Mr。　Archer。　　'We　both　require　caution；　we　must　both；　for　some　　while　at　least；　avoid　the　chance　of　a　pursuit。'
  'Archer；'　quoth　his　lordship；　'this　is　a　rank　ingratishood。　　　What？　　I'm　to　go　firing　away　in　the　dark　in　the　cold　　po'chaise；　and　not　so　much　as　a　game　of　ecarte　possible；　　unless　I　stop　and　play　with　the　postillion；　the　postillion；　　and　the　whole　country　swarming　with　thieves　and　rascals　and　　highwaymen。'
  'I　beg　your　lordship's　pardon；'　put　in　the　landlord；　who　now　　appeared　in　the　doorway　to　announce　the　chaise；　'but　this　　part　of　the　North　Road　is　known　for　safety。　　There　has　not　　been　a　robbery；　to　call　a　robbery；　this　five　years'　time。　　　Further　south；　of　course；　it's　nearer　London；　and　another　　story；'　he　added。
  'Well；　then；　if　that's　so；'　concluded　my　lord；　'le'　's　have　　t'other　bowl　and　a　pack　of　cards。'
  'My　lord；　you　forget；'　said　Archer；　'I　might　still　gain；　but　　it　is　hardly　possible　for　me　to　lose。'
  'Think　I'm　a　sharper？'　inquired　the　peer。　　'Gen'leman's　　parole's　all　I　ask。'
  But　Mr。　Archer　was　proof　against　these　blandishments；　and　　said　farewell　gravely　enough　to　Lord　Windermoor；　shaking　his　　hand　and　at　the　same　time　bowing　very　low。　　'You　will　never　　know；'　says　he；　'the　service　you　have　done　me。'　　And　with　　that；　and　before　my　lord　had　finally　taken　up　his　meaning；　he　　had　slipped　about　the　table；　touched　Nance　lightly　but　　imperiously　on　the　arm；　and　left　the　room。　　In　face　of　the　　outbreak　of　his　lordship's　lamentations　she　made　haste　to　　follow　the　truant。
  THE　GREAT　NORTH　ROAD　CHAPTER　II　…　IN　WHICH　MR。　ARCHER　IS　INSTALLED
  THE　chaise　had　been　driven　round　to　the　front　door；　the　　courtyard　lay　all　deserted；　and　only　lit　by　a　lantern　set　　upon　a　window…sill。　　Through　this　Nance　rapidly　led　the　way；　　and　began　to　ascend　the　swellings　of　the　moor　with　a　heart　　that　somewhat　fluttered　in　her　bosom。　　She　was　not　afraid；　　but　in　the　course　of　these　last　passages　with　Lord　Windermoor　　Mr。　Archer　had　ascended　to　that　pedestal　on　which　her　fancy　　waited　to　instal　him。　　The　reality；　she　felt；　excelled　her　　dreams；　and　this　cold　night　walk　was　the　first　romantic　　incident　in　her　experience。
  It　was　the　rule　in　these　days　to　see　gentlemen　unsteady　after　　dinner；　yet　Nance　was　both　surprised　and　amused　when　her　　companion；　who　had　spoken　so　soberly；　began　to　stumble　and　　waver　by　her　side　with　the　most　airy　divagations。　　Sometimes　　he　would　get　so　close　to　her　that　she　must　edge　away；　and　at　　others　lurch　clear　out　of　the　track　and　plough　among　deep　　heather。　　His　courtesy　and　gravity　meanwhile　remained　　unaltered。　　He　asked　her　how　far　they　had　to　go；　whether　the　　way　lay　all　upon　the　moorland；　and　when　he　learned　they　had　　to　pass　a　wood　expressed　his　pleasure。　　'For；'　said　he；　'I　am　　passionately　fond　of　trees。　　Trees　and　fair　lawns；　if　you　　consider　of　it　rightly；　are　the　ornaments　of　nature；　as　　palaces　and　fine　approaches　…　'　　And　here　he　stumbled　into　a　　patch　of　slough　and　nearly　fell。　　The　girl　had　hard　work　not　　to　laugh；　but　at　heart　she　was　lost　in　admiration　for　one　who　　talked　so　elegantly。
  They　had　got　to　about　a　quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　'Green　　Dragon；'　and　were　near　the　summit　of　the　rise；　when　a　sudden　　rush　of　wheels　arrested　them。　　Turning　and　looking　back；　they　　saw　the　post…house；　now　much　declined　in　brightness；　and　　speeding　away　northward　the　two　tremulous　bright　dots　of　my　　Lord　Windermoor's　chaise…lamps。　　Mr。　Archer　followed　these　　yellow　and