Houseman said these few words with a palpable emotion; and it was more striking on account of the evident coarseness and hardened vulgarity of his nature. In a moment more he had mounted Walter's horse, and turning ere he sped on, inquired at what place at Knaresborough the horse should be sent. Walter directed him to the principal inn; and Houseman, waving his hand, and striking his spurs into the animal, wearied as it was, was out of sight in a moment. "Well, if ever I seed the like!" quoth the Corporal. "Lira, lira, la, la, la! lira, lara, la, la, la!--augh!--whaugh!--bother!" "So my good-nature does not please you, Bunting." "Oh, Sir, it does not sinnify: we shall have our throats cut--that's all. "What! you don't believe the story." "I? Bless your honour, I am no fool." "Bunting!" "Sir." "You forget yourself." "Augh!" "So you don't think I should have lent the horse?" "Sartainly not." "On occasions like these, every man ought to take care of himself? Prudence before generosity?" "Of a sartainty, Sir." "Dismount, then,--I want my horse. You may shift with the lame one." "Augh, Sir,--baugh!" "Rascal, dismount, I say!" said Walter angrily: for the Corporal was one of those men who aim at governing their masters; and his selfishness now irritated Walter as much as his impertinent tone of superior wisdom. The Corporal hesitated. He thought an ambuscade by the road of certain occurrence; and he was weighing the danger of riding a lame horse against his master's displeasure. Walter, perceiving he demurred, was seized with so violent a resentment, that he dashed up to the Corporal, and, grasping him by the collar, swung him, heavy as he was,--being wholly unprepared for such force,--to the ground. Without deigning to look at his condition, Walter mounted the sound horse, and throwing the bridle of the lame one over a bough, left the Corporal to follow at his leisure. There is not perhaps a more sore state of mind than that which we experience when we have committed an act we meant to be generous, and fear to be foolish. "Certainly," said Walter, soliloquizing, "certainly the man is a rascal: yet he was evidently sincere in his emotion. Certainly he was one of the men who robbed me; yet, if so, he was also the one who interceded for my life. If I should now have given strength to a villain;--if I should have assisted him to an outrage against myself! What more probable? Yet, on the other hand, if his story be true;--if his child be dying,--and if, through my means, he obtain a last interview with her! Well, well, let me hope so!"