of impatience and fatigue, the figure struggled into a sitting posture; and there, under a mass of crumpled beaver, and surrounded by a semicircle of blue curl-papers, were the delicate features of Miss Fanny Squeers.
"Oh, 'Tilda!" cried Miss Squeers, "How you have been kicking of me through this blessed night!"
"Well, I do like that," replied her friend, laughing, "when you have had nearly the whole coach to yourself."
"Don't deny it 'Tilda," said Miss Squeers, impressively, "because you have, and it's no use to go attempting to say you haven't. You mightn't have known it in your sleep, 'Tilda, but I haven't closed my eyes for a single wink, and so I think I am to be believed."
With which reply. Miss Squeers adjusted the bonnet and veil, which nothing but supernatural interference and an utter suspension of nature's laws could have reduced to any shape or form; and evidently flattering herself that it looked uncommonly neat, brushed off the sandwich-crumbs and bits of biscuit, which had accumulated in her lap, and availing herself of John Browdie's proffered arm, descended from the coach.
"Noo," said John, when a hackney-coach had been called, and the ladies and the luggage hurried in, "gang to the Sarah's Head, mun."
"To the vere?" cried the coachman.
"Lawk, Mr. Browdie!" interrupted Miss Squeers. "The idea! Saracen's Head."
"Sure-ly," said John, " I know'd it was summut aboot Sarah—to the Sarah Son's Head. Dost thou know thot?"
"Oh, ah—I know that," replied the coachman, gruffly, as he banged the door.
"'Tilda, dear—really," remonstrated Miss Squeers, "we shall be taken for I don't know what."
"Let 'em tak us as they foind us;" said John Browdie, "we dean't come to Lunnun to do nought but 'joy oursel, do we?"
"I hope not, Mr. Browdie," replied Miss Squeers, looking singularly dismal.
"Well, then," said John, "it's no matther. I've only been a married mun fower days, 'account of poor old feyther deein' and puttin it of. Here be a weddin' party—broide and broide'smaid, and the groom—if a mun dean't 'joy himsel noo, when ought he, hey? Draat it all, thot's what I wont to know."
So, in order that he might begin to enjoy himself at once, and lose no time, Mr. Browdie gave his wife a hearty kiss, and succeeded in wresting another from Miss Squeers after a maidenly resistance of scratching and struggling on the part of that young lady, which was not quite over when they reached the Saracen's Head.
Here the party straightway retired to rest, the refreshment of sleep being necessary after so long a journey; and here they met again, about noon, to a substantial breakfast, spread by direction of Mr. John Browdie, in a small private room up-stairs commanding an uninterrupted view of the stables.
