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OnhisroadtothehousetopackhisportmanteauGodfreywentalittlewayroundtoarrangewithablacksmith，generallyknownasTom，whojobbedoutapony-trap，todrivehimtothestationtocatchthe7。15
train。Theblacksmithremarkedthattheywouldhavetohurry，andsettoworktoputtheponyin，whileGodfreyranontotheAbbeyHouseandhurriedlycollectedhisclothes。Hegotthempackedanddownintothehalljustasthetraparrived。
Ashewasenteringittheservantputaletterintohishandwhichshesaidhadcomeforhimbytheafternoonpost。Hethrustitintohispocketunlookedat，andofftheywentatthepony’sbestpace。
“Youaregoingawayoncommonquick，MasterGodfrey。Comingbacktothesepartssoon？“queriedtheblacksmith。
“No，notforalongwhile，Tom。“
“Ithinktheremusthavebeenlightningwiththatrain，“wentonTom，afterapause，“althoughIheardnothunder。ElsehoweverdidthatmarbleangeloverpoorLadyJane’sgravecomedownwithsuchasmash？“
Godfreyglancedathim，butTomremainedimperturbableandwenton：
“Theydusayitworawunnerfulsmash，whatbrokeoffboththewingsandnearlyflatteredoutsomeasstoodby。Rumthing，MasterGodfrey，thatthelightningshouldhavepickedoutthegraveofsogoodaladytohit；ondiscriminatingthing，lightningis。“
“Stoptalkinghumbug，Tom。Wereyouthere？“askedGodfrey。
“Well，notexactlythere，MasterGodfrey，butIandoneortwootherswasnigh，havingheardvoiceslouderthanthecommon，justlookingoverthechurchyardwall，totelltruth。“
“Oh!“ejaculatedGodfrey，andTomcontinuedinareflectivevoice。
“My!theyweretwobeuties，whatyougavethatoldfatdevilofasquire。Ifhe’dbeenabullinsteadofonlyroaringlikeone，they’dhavebroughthimdown，tosaynothingofparsonandtheangel。“
“Icouldn’thelpit，Tom。Iwasmad。“
“Andnowonder，afterbeingcrumpedonthenutwithatightumbrella。
Why，I’dhavedonethesamemyself，baroniteornobaronite。Oh!
there’snoneedtoexplain；Iknowseverythingaboutit，andsodoeseverybabeinthevillagebynow，nottomentiontheoldwomen。MasterGodfrey，youtakemyadvice，thenexttimeyougoa-courtin’shutthedoorbehindyou，whichIalwaysmadeapointo’doingwhenIwasyoung。Beingpassingthatway，Iseedparsonpeepingin，andknowingyouwasthere，guessedwhy。TruthisIcametowarnyouafterhe’dgoneuptotheHall，butseein’howyouwasengaged，thoughtitapitytointerrupt，thoughnowIwishIhad。“
Godfreygroaned；therewasnothingtosay。
“Well，allthesoot’sinthecooking-potnow，sotospeak，“proceededTomblandly，“andwe’redownrightsadaboutit，weare，forasmymissuswassaying，you’dmakeaprettypair。But，Lord，MasterGodfrey，don’tyoutakeittoomuchtoheart，forshe’sanuprightyounglady，sheis，andsteadfast。Orifsheain’t，there’splentyofothers；alsoonedayfollowsanother，asthesayinggoes，andtheworstofoldvarmintsdon’tliveforever。Butparson，hebeatsme，andyouhisson，sotheytell，thoughInevercouldthinkitmyself。
Ifheain’tthemeanestferretIeverclappedeyeson，maytheoldmarefalldownandbreakmyneck。Well，he’llhearaboutit，Icanpromisehim，especiallyifhemeetsmymissuswhat’sgotatongueinherhead，andisachapelwomanintothebargain。Lord!therecomesthetrain。Don’tyoufear，we’llcatchher。Holdtight，MasterGodfrey，andbereadytojumpout。No，no，thereain’tnothingtopay。
I’llstickitontoparson’sfarenexttimeI’vedruvehim。Good-bye，MasterGodfrey，andGodblessyou，ifonlyforthatthererightandleftwhichwarmedmyhearttosee，andmindye，“heshoutedafterhim，“there’smoreyoungwomenintheworldthanyemeetsinanafternoon’swalk，andonenaildrivesanotherout，asbeingasmithbytradeI
knowswell。“
Godfreybundledintoanemptycarriagewithhisportmanteauandhiscoat，andcoveredhisfacewithhishandsthathemightseenomoreofthataccursedstationwhenc
