When Penelope left Smatterton, and was residing in London, Nick thought little or nothing concerning his treachery. But now she had returned to the country again, and he had seen her, and she had spoken to him kindly and civilly, and had condescended to make enquiries after his poor old mother, his heart melted within him, and he could hardly speak to her. It was very kind of her to come out and speak to him, there was not one young lady in a hundred who would have condescended so much. Poor Muggins could not think what had bewitched him to play the traitor to so beautiful, so elegant, and so sweet-tempered a young lady as Miss Primrose; for Nick had a notion of elegance and beauty, though, to look at himself and his pony, one would hardly have imagined it. That was a curious refinement in Nick's conscience, that he should reproach himself so much the more bitterly for his transgression, because the person whom he had injured was beautiful and sweet-tempered. Perhaps he would have thought less of the matter had Miss Primrose been a little, under-sized, snub-nosed, cross-grained old maid. But that is a very dangerous and wicked mode of reasoning, and wiser people than Nick Muggins are guilty of it; let such persons be told that under-sized, snub-nosed, cross-grained old maids have as much feeling as the rest of the world, and are as much entitled to the advantages and protection of the laws of humanity as the young, and the lovely, and the amiable. Be this as it may, still the ungainly post-boy felt rather awkwardly and looked foolishly when he thus encountered the unexpected appearance and condescension of Penelope Primrose. And when he returned home to his mother's cottage, he could not help acknowledging to her his transgressions, and speaking of the remorse that he felt. The old woman however thought and said, that what was done could not be undone, and that he had better be more cautious another time, and that mayhap it might not be a matter of much consequence; just a love affair like, or some sich stuff; and she concluded by telling him never to take money out of letters for fear of being hanged. "But I am so sorry, mother," said Nick, "you can't think what a nice, kind young lady Miss Primrose is." "Ay, ay," said Mrs Muggins, in reply, "and so is my Lord Spoonbill a very nice young gentleman. Never mind now, only don't do so again. And what's the use of your telling Miss Primrose anything about it?" "Oh why, because somehow I think it was such a pity like. She is so pretty." "Nonsense, boy; Lord Spoonbill is a person of much greater consequence than a dozen pretty Miss Primroses. I am sure he is as nice a man as ever lived." Nick muttered something about Lord Spoonbill's large whiskers, and the colloquy ceased; but Nick was fidgetty still.