"Why going to Charley, Miss Vaughan, to be sure. Going for Charley’s opinion. And very wise of you too; and what a most every one does; particular when he have money. But how you knowed he were there--" "Where?" "At the great wrestling match to be sure. And he wanted to take me; a thing he ain’t offered to do fifteen year next oyster-day. No, no, says I, with Miss Vaughan away, and most likely among them resurrectioners--" Here she cast at me a glance, like a flash of lightning, to see if the hit had told. In a moment I understood all that I had not cared to ask about; why she trembled and shrunk from my hand, why she feared to look at me, and fixed her eyes away so. She believed that I had been burked, and that what she saw walking beside was my spirit come to claim burial. I could not stop to disprove it, any more than I could stop to laugh. "And his grandfather were a sexton, Miss; and our Charley himself a first-rate hand at the spade." "Mrs. Shelfer, we are close to the place. Now, listen to what I say. It is not your husband I want, but Farmer Huxtable, whom you saw at the door. Nothing but a question of life and death would bring me among this rabble. No doubt there are many respectable men, but it is no place for a lady. The farmer himself knows that, and has never dared to ask me; though his wife and daughter, in ignorance, have. It is half-past twelve exactly; in a quarter of an hour at the utmost, I must speak to, and what is more, carry off the Devonshire competitor. Your husband is here, and on the Committee, you told me. I expect you to manage it. Go in at once and find him. Stop, here is plenty of money." In her supreme astonishment, she even dared to look at me. But she feared to take the money, although her eyes glistened at it, for I offered more gold than silver. "Come back to me at once; I shall not move from here. Mind, if the farmer loses the match through me, I will pay all, and give the money for another." For once the little woman obeyed me, without discussion. She pushed through a canvass door into the vast marquee, or whatever it ought to be called, and was admitted readily on giving her husband’s name. I hung back, but with a sense of the urgency of my case, which turned my shame into pride. Many eyes were on me already of loungers and outsiders. In two or three minutes poor Patty came back, bringing Mr. Shelfer himself, who ever since his ducking had shown me the rose and pink of respect. He even went the length now of removing his pipe from his mouth. "Very sorry indeed, Miss Vaughan, very sorry, you know. But we darrn’t interrupt the men now. Our lives wouldn’t be worth it, and they’d kill both the umpires and the referee too you know. Why it’s fall for fall, only think of that, Miss Vaughan, it’s fall for fall!" And the perspiration stood upon his forehead, and he wanted to run back.