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‘Drink it, Miss Summerson, it’ll do you good. You’re be-
ginning to get more yourself now, ain’t you?’
I thanked him and said I hoped so.
‘You was what you may call stunned at first,’ he returned;
‘and Lord, no wonder! Don’t speak loud, my dear. It’s all
right. She’s on ahead.’
I don’t know what joyful exclamation I made or was go-
ing to make, but he put up his finger and I stopped myself.
‘Passed through here on foot this evening about eight or
nine. I heard of her first at the archway toll, over at High-
gate, but couldn’t make quite sure. Traced her all along, on
and off. Picked her up at one place, and dropped her at an-
other; but she’s before us now, safe. Take hold of this cup
and saucer, ostler. Now, if you wasn’t brought up to the but-
ter trade, look out and see if you can catch half a crown in
your t’other hand. One, two, three, and there you are! Now,
my lad, try a gallop!’
We were soon in Saint Albans and alighted a little before
day, when I was just beginning to arrange and comprehend
the occurrences of the night and really to believe that they
were not a dream. Leaving the carriage at the posting-house
and ordering fresh horses to be ready, my companion gave
me his arm, and we went towards home.
‘As this is your regular abode, Miss Summerson, you
see,’ he observed, ‘I should like to know whether you’ve
been asked for by any stranger answering the description,
or whether Mr. Jarndyce has. I don’t much expect it, but it
might be.’
As we ascended the hill, he looked about him with a

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