Nothing but a red pig would have made Hieronymus desert the hill-ponies. A red pig was of course irresistible to any one in his senses; and the historian followed contentedly after the landlady of the Green Dragon. She made her way among the crowds of people who had come to this great horse-fair, which was the most important one of the whole year. Hieronymus was much interested in every one and everything he saw; he looked at the horses, and sheep, and cows, and exchanged conversation with any one who would talk to him. "There’s a deal of money will change hands to-day," said a jolly old farmer to him. "But prices be dreadful low this year. Why, the pigs be going for a mere nothing." "I’m going to buy a pig," Hieronymus said proudly, "a red one." "Ah," said the farmer, looking at him with a sort of indulgent disdain, "it’s a breed as I care nothing about." Then he turned to one of his colleagues, evidently considering Hieronymus rather a feeble kind of individual, with whom it was not profitable to talk. The historian was depressed for the moment, but soon recovered his spirits when he saw the fascinating red pigs. And his pride and conceit knew no bounds when Mrs. Benbow actually chose and bought the very animal which he had recommended to her notice. He saw David Ellis, and went to tell him about the pig. The exciseman laughed, and then looked sad again. "My little Joan is very unhappy," he said, half in a whisper. "The old white horse is to be sold. Do you see her there yonder? How I wish I could buy the old mare and give her to Joan!" "That would be a very unwise thing for you to do," said Hieronymus. "Yes," said David. "And do you know, I’ve been thinking of what you said about her going out into the world. And I found this advertisement. Shall I give it to her?" Hieronymus looked at it. "You’re a dear fellow, David," he said warmly. "Yes, give it to her. And I too have been thinking of what you said to me. I’ve told her a little of my story, and she knows now how my heart is altogether taken up with my past. So, if I’ve done any harm to her and you, I have tried to set it right. And to-morrow I am going home. You will see me off at the station?" "I’ll be there," said the exciseman. But there was no sign in his manner that he wished to be rid of Hieronymus. The historian, who all unconsciously won people’s hearts, all unconsciously kept them too. Even Auntie Lloyd, to whom he had been presented, owned that he "had a way" about him. (But then he had asked after her sciatica!) He spoke a few words to Joan, who stood lingering near the old white mare. She had been a little shy of him since he had talked so openly to her; and he had noticed this, and used all his geniality to set her at her ease again.