The High Toby

le success, as it chanced that year. I love the West Country, not only because I have, as a rule, found there fat pockets jogging home untimely on a nag, or

, while I have even known 'em to set up Finchley Common or Hounslow for choice. Old Irons, who never had much self-respect, and was no

ch he did, sure enough, by a visit to Finchley and not so much as a charged pistol. That was never my way. I never could abide such sport. Give me a creditable fellow

aversed in my time. Well, I was newly out of the West that May night, but on this occasion in no very good humour, as you may imagine, when I say that I had been forced to leave a belt of guineas behind at Devizes-so close upon me were the traps. Indeed, I was very nearly taken in the night, all owing

ne decide," and I was turning the mare into the lane, when something com

o the hedge, and I raised my vo

me the blunderer. 'Twas a woman, or, at least, a slip so young and silly that maybe she should not be so styled; and I had no sooner made that out and ceased in the middle of my

bling voice, "I did not see-I-

woman weeps (for I could have sworn she was pretty enough

ught you was some blundering, hulking bully that was meat for my bodkin, or my whip, if no more. But as

was not afraid of you. I only

rly drops be not for me, why, I should like to know what opened the wells, my dear? and then I will see if you have broken the mare's leg with your ons

r women have but scant appreciation o

he night, sir!" she cries

innocent as a lamb and as foolish, as you might detect from her voice, t

s I, "if you will find me the particular villain, fat or lean and cock or cockatrice, that has thrown out a ba-l

which was small, and her body, which was sligh

shut the door on me. He will not le

. But uncles are not hard masters even to young m

he is full of burning fury. He will not have me back," she said in a voice of hesitating timidity; and,

broken my mare's leg, I believe, and I must ha

quick voice said, "He will not hear

to smell powder. And he h

ered. "He woul

d late?" She hesitated. "Why, come," I said, rallying her, "I'd ha' done the same myself

s she in a

n, never fear; so come along of me, and sho

side, something reluctant, as I guessed, but cheering as she[32] went. Her uncle, says she, was a draper i

want in the end. 'Tis the same with George. Let him worry at it as a dog a b

with enthusiasm; "and he is the

n together quite friendly, "damme! that's the lad

essed George's goodness and estimable virtues, and how

not love him too much, or mayb

lt, and falling very tremulo

ys, "but there are no lig

and forthwith went up

3

ame George that should have been swinged, not pretty miss like a dove. Thought I to myself-old hunks slams the door in an Anabaptist frenzy, and, presently after, while setting on his night-cap and a-saying his prayers, remembers and considers what a fool he is, and how the girl is under his authority and mallea

here was an old fat fellow with a

e, for my appearance

4] something in between, and what that is matters nothing. But I found a poor maid

d. "It's you, Nelly!" said he, sharply. "Have I not said I have done with you? Go to you

er. This is your niece, I belie

is mine and not yours I ca

t there is one thing I have no need to learn again, and that's how to knock sense and discretion into a thick head,"

sir," he said in a quieter voice. "I have to give my niece[35] lessons; I have to teach her by severity; but since it is probable that she has b

imple a trick. Yet he was miss's uncle, and how was I to suspect him so deeply? At anyrate, the facts are that, on seeing him alter so reasonably, and step back with the invitation on his lips and in his bear

vered in a moment, when out of the wind

her yourself. I want no soiled pieces in a Christian house," and then the hea

3

shabbily. I was, on the instant, for flying at the door and employing barkers and point forthwith, but it is not wise to leap to

nd I must fight or toss for you, my dear." You must remember that I had not seen her face all this time, for all the stre

, and shrank away into the darkness,

tterkins as you are no meat for me, pretty as you be, I'll swear. No, you're for George, or may I p

[37] speaking with an air of dignity, v

ny. But as for old Suet yonder, rip and stab me if I do not pay him back in gold

h I knew at the inn. I was fashioning in my mind a plan for the confounding of the old tub-of-lard as I went, for I never lose time, but am speedy at my aim; yet all the same I talked with miss pretty jovial, for she was a shrinking slip of a girl who was beginning now to

yder!" says h

38] he wants a bed along of Sally for

ers, Captain," says he. "At least 'tis put in an amazing odd way.

said I, annoyed, for I wa

agerly, "you'll s

id I. "I want no cut

a fear of me, and knew of my repute on many roa

at once, for I knew not who he might be, and down he stepped into the light, showing a foppish sort of a face, hair very particularly curled, and a becoming dress. No sooner did I clap eyes on him than I knew what kidney

lted maybe by some of Costley's fellows, and I ran to the door. Bu

er plainly for the first time. Lord! there was nothing in her face that would not have convinced any Court at Old Bailey forthright. She was prettily handsome, like a do

; 'tis h

l is he?" sai

abashed. "He has been supping here,

o it is, specially for young bloods like that. Well," says I, "since you're cont

ounded. "But-" she begin

ng behind 'em. But it was true that the coxcomb's appearance did not better her case, beyond the titillation of mutual affection; so I considered, and the idea I had taken suddenly bloomed forth in m

ons the honour to sup with him, and this you

on-I-I have supp

er: "if it were not for him I know

ill sup at[41] anyrate," at

not too far gone as yet. He stared at my guests hard enough, but seemed to be at a loss what to make of them or how to deal by them. So that he was for a time pretty silent,

ve ye got here, Dick?" s

of mine

in the fine clothes, not knowing, poor fool, what sort of man he had to deal with, fired up and demanded haughtily

I to him, seeing the g

turned Anabaptist, Dick. What fad's this? I w

said I, sharply, "I will take leave t

says he, "don't go for to say you're going to commit assault on Old Irons, and shut his pretty peepers for ever. I'll warr

done and pull up, for I maybe sha

d to wipe a tear from his eye and regain his spirits. He whistled a sn

e, holding his beaker up and ogling towards miss. "Here's to the beauty o

rl, asking if she was not the Duchess of this or my Lady that, and feigning to inquire after his friends at Court in a mincing, fashionable voice that was grotes

ould be all agog to do service to a young lady that was in

t. 'What's Dick got?' says I to myself, and says myself to I, 'Maybe (and I hope) he will be for letti

wish, old man, and this young gentleman too, w

being called on to retire to my lodging, which is[44] far hence, I will t

his lady in the hands of those whom he knew not, with never a roof to cover her. He had taken a fear of Irons, maybe, or perhaps his suspicion was due to my mas

that brave coat of yours. Moreover," says I, "here is a lady in trouble, and if I read

g gentleman. I can see it in h

the other, in confusion. "I am willing to

nd then. It had come into my head as I walked along the road with Mrs Nelly, but I had the whole form perfect only when I had encountered the apprentice and heard Irons was in the tavern. Old Irons and I were to make an entry int

t seemly. I will be no party

ill adventure without you, and 'tis

orge?" says she, beaming. "I believe it will co

pushed into the corner

om Old Irons to me, and from me[46] to Old Irons, a

u, young master, we are both noblemen in disguise, so we are, and would think shame of this job if

voice of soft entreaty that

ith an air of protest. "'Twill fail,

back; "and you shall drink to us and success," with w

red him presently, so that he began to talk lightly and proffer

ws the red blood. Sink me! there you are, as cold as clay, and with no more life in you than

4

rons and I went to the back of the house and made scrutiny of the yard. There was little trouble in the job, as it chanced, for Irons is skilled in the business, which I should scorn to be, holding it for a scurvy, mean-livered craft, unworthy of a gentleman. But I was committed to it for this occasio

?" he asked, usi

's house," said I, "and

own on the stairs, "I may be dullard, but

w[48] where you stand, Irons, and

l, I'll empty old Nunky of his spanks, and we'll

the rascals that had dared break into the merchant's house. At which Irons and I were to make off, and the old gentleman, rising in terror from his bed, should discover us in fli

o rooms, than we were surprised by the figure of the old gentleman moving

Irons in the faint light.

. But his knuckles[49] fell on it with a rap as he withdrew the catch, and immediately after there was a

ll blow a hole in y

tol-butt; while, to make confusion worse, the old man in the night-cap let off his blunderbuss. Such a screeching arose as would have astonished a churchyard of ghosts, for the truth was, old Nunky hit George somewhere in

place for a tender-hearted chicken like you or me. We're no match for savage fire-eaters like these. We'd best g

5

pened?" she c

l wager Nunky will be calling for you presently to reward

fool thought her George had been brave. She claspe

Old Irons has taken thanks for us both, and would hav

ld Irons. "I would I

ries, and cl

uss. Faith, he took both wounds like a lamb. I would I had his co

she was pretty enough, and her innocence touched me, f

you'll find him a-rubbing of his head, and

ty accurate. But I had finished with miss then, and the next business was to divide with Old Irons. 'Twas the first time that I had ever engaged in a job with him,