The High Toby

eir lace and powder, and others again have descended upon a scale to the common Kixsywinsy; but in the end I would wager Polly Scarlet against any of the pack. Yet I will

midriff, and, coming home so sharp, does thus affect the bearing of us all. Madam or miss, there was no handsomer lady in town on that summer night when I encountered her than S

1

air arose the clamour of swords in engagement. This was nothing to me, for I am not used to intermeddle in such affairs as nocturnal brawls, unless, indeed, I am gone in liquor, as sometimes happens, or am led off by troublesome company. But to the sounds of the fight succeeded the voice of a woman, crying, but not very loudly, for help. This, as you may believe, was upon another footing, for there was never a petticoat that appealed to Dick Ryder in her trouble in vain, as my records will prove on any road in England. So off I set at a run in the direction[123] of the sounds, which seemed to stream out of the entrance to Windmill Street. The houses here were black and silent (it being so late) and there was no sign of any interest on t

m his face, which showed clear and lean in the moonlight. But that was no sooner done than the big man by me lurched and staggered, so that it was plain he had taken something in his vitals. Well, here was I now all alone with that evil pack about me, pressing on me like birds of prey, for although I had pinked one and his master, there was two more able-bodied culleys left, to say nothing of the master himself, whose wound, to judge from his language, was more painful than serious. I am quick at a resolve, and know when to withdraw from in front of odds. There was a man fallen wounded, and maybe dead, and no signs of th

e had run some distance I brought 'em to with an effort, and, hearing no noise of the enemy, descended and opened the door of the chaise. The moon shone sufficiently for me to make out the hump

ad?" she ask

I'll warrant. Best get him home and have a surgeon fetched; and if you w

hed the house, and, the bell being rung and the servants called, the fat gentleman was got in safely enough. Upon that someone flies for the surgeon, and there was I all alone with the lady, and not loth to clap my peepers on her more nearly. She moved with a st

sir," she says, very tremulously,

ith a congee again, "to have bee

e," she continued, with a pretty shudder. "Sir Philip stepped ou

hat could he do

she, with an air of some petulance now, "but that our

1

, and let Beauty yawn or pay in gratitude. So I sat on in the saloon, making conversation as it seemed fit to me to serve one of her class and age. No doubt she was tired, for the hour was about two in the morning, yet her pretty yawns, which she feigned to cover with her hands, vexed me. But indeed I might have gone forth and left her there and then for very shame as would have been natural, had it not been that an excuse came to aid me in a message from Sir Philip, who had recovered under the attentions of the surgeon. He had learned, it seemed, tha

its to attract her. I'll warrant she must have taken an idea of me as a buck of Town, although she feigned coldness

e the play, m

" says she, and covered u

ove in a Tub?" said I, for I wou

she, "I have a

day like to you, miss," said I, with

ws. "Well, indeed," s

1

t wish to see-so she w

miss. "What a fortunate lady

miss," says I,

oss like two sticks that could beat myself," and ere I

nx; but I will admit she had a fascination for me, and wherein my teeth are set there I hold; so that I paced the cha

turn, and I watched him till he came into the light of the candles, when I cried out sharply-for the face was no other than that which had lain

1

u recognise me," for I was amazed and disorder

world," says he, coolly, and arranged some nice

much as who be you and what audacity brings you here?

me, and there was no manner of irrita

ves another; so my name is York, and

I laughed. "S'blood," I said, "'tis a pretty demonstration of friendship to be

ine command of himself, which took my admiration, toad as h

here,[131] madam?" and he turned to miss, who had entered at that

e cried, in a

aybe Sir Philip was at his cards and would give me welcome, and the door was open. But I find only," h

ked," stammered miss; "the

faltered out her negative, continued very polite, "Footpads, I doubt not

much for me, an

mask fell from his face as he fought me, and I saw him plain. I would have

oftly. "Who, d'ye suppose, would credit this[132] cock-and-bull story? I pro

so little, and sh

ok," said she. "I cannot credi

n if he denies it," and out I whipped my iron, ready for an onfall. But it seemed that he would not budge, and smile

e and Sir Philip. He is on terms of intimacy. Lard, sir, you surprise

I have not the honour of knowing, is doubtless much excited by the event and must be excused. Otherwise...." he shrugged his shoulders significantly, "

credulous, and perilling herself and the house by blind faith in such a villain. Upon his features, moreover, there was a fain

law shall go free of you. Indeed, I have no particular fancy for the law myself. But, perish me, sir," says I, "I detect a mighty

often in good stead, and he must have seen what sort of kidney he had to deal with, for he gazed at

sir," said he, "that

1

will not be outside, then,

was not to be put down by a naughty fop like him, with his punctilios, more especiall

let's see your tr

e in and stayed me, comi

very level and quiet, "w

h his arm in a bandage, a cap on his iron-grey hair, and on his face a stern, commanding expression. Out of the tail of my ey

ry nick. Here's a most impudent and amazing case," and he cocks his finger at me. "I have nev

1

, so that I maybe might share the jest," s

rom a pack of villains, cutpurses or worse, what is my surprise to find installed in your house the very

ing and ready wit. Sir Philip stared at me with a black frown, for I could find nothing for the moment to

able rogu

"if perhaps the watch was called. For he is a man that can use a weapon, as your arm bears witness, and, indeed, my own sk

s to me, "you a

1

put up meekly under thi

stands the fellow that was in the assault on your carriage, and 'twa

f us, under his bent black brows, but York's

n. It may be that he is drunk that he plays so wildly. You have known me long. Sure, I needn

said Sir Philip, slowly, "and I have kno

iss, "which, unhappily, you have not seen fit to allow me so far

lip turned as t

ry? We were attacked and rescued.[137] Was this

nd her bosom went fast; and there fla

tered, "I could not sa

were," said h

ace that I took the cove

r York rescued us," went

er the words, so little was I ripe f

ve off the pack, and fetched the chaise home. 'Twas I lifted you

is sword arm with a g

lainous rogue, and if we have not always agree

ken a notion of how things stood between the two. Moreover, I was not done with yet, and I cast about to be even with the pair. Sir Philip, it seemed, was hostile to the addresses of this York; and as patently, miss herself w

not contest a lady's word, be she Poll

thout more ado

remember that we have never quite agreed. I hope that will mend. I remain greatly in your debt, and I trust you will be

ilip with his black, portentous face, leaving us three there together again. As[139] for me, I ha

why the devil did you yield that way? I had looked for a good round fight, as good,

ked out of tragic eyes, and then it came upon me like a flash that she was no party to the lie herself, but had spoken in fear of that bully. Indeed

sir," said she at

. "I had not thought of that. You had

endly, rather than what he was at h

go," says I. "If I mu

1

"you must go, oh, you must go, si

t of a scrape, yet how far the girl was involved in the business I had not yet de

, "something in recognition of my effor

gh, and I believe I would have gone had it not been for York, whose bearing annoyed me. Besides, I wanted to see how far miss would go, and if her resolution to veil the truth would stand out against the watch and a poor victim haled t

n obstinate fellow, and, faith, deserves his fate. Let h

again in a fury at his insolence; only Miss Lydia int

close. He stands in my way, and will not allow me what is allowed all women. I am not a schoolgirl, sir. I am grown a height," and she raised herself to her full stature. "Surely I may have that liberty to command, to choose where I will and whom. Sir, he has sought to make himself all the law to me," she cries, with heav

1

"a pig of a man to inte

had better have held his to

you have touched him there. Best s

," she says, "and, indeed, your eyes have been witness to his deeds and what he is. My guardian came between us and denied us. And this was his plan-to snatch me away by violence while I stood passive, not refusing nor accepting."

not," and I scowled at York where he stood. But York says nothing, merely lifting his shoulders, and being content, no doubt, t

she said, "can you blame me if I would bury th

I. "I would I might h

d, sparkling shyly

..," s

ll die a quiet death, and nothing will be digged up against me. I shall not have to tell the truth

a sound, but

r!" she

"It seems I must condone wo

, and, looking in her pretty face, I could resist no longer, for

of a sudden remembered. "But

1

e said, pointing to

r I was taken with a notion, "but the

nk your sword is better than h

He must have some marks of a struggle. Either I must leave him with a wound, or sen

" she said, and turned to York, whose face for the fi

and gagged," says

he says, h

lip and fidgeted. He looked at Miss Lydia as if about t

s[145] chagrin, though I admired him for his manner. He would have done pretty well on the road if he could have put by his scurvy way with women. Yet I was not for letting him off, after what he had done,

none of tha

g to her. She hesitated, and, looking on him, app

s not necessa

nvince Sir Philip of our good faith; else he will smel

e I moved a step nearer to York, who

y I

ith my knee in his wind threw him in a heap upon the floor. Mis

ut[146] at that moment there was a sou

running to me. "You

p the bargain," said I, looking with a gr

"If you will credit me, madam," says I, "you w

or she was terrified of the sounds out

ough me an amazing thrill, so that, beholding her so vastly ha

ged you in embarrassments, for which may I be whipped. What get I for my pains, then? Why, nothing, not even the private consolation to have relie

1

e, and devilish enticing. The sounds were not now audible, and I was at the window, so that I suppose

ld you ha

ok up, look up, I pray you, and I'll war

es all the same, while from the floor there was a choking sound

rtable position," says she, sweetly.

would lie so all night if

?" says she, opening

arm about her swiftly and carried her face to mine. Miss Lydia called out "Oh!" and t

1

seeing my time was come I turned and went, leaving th