“Stop, you sot!” screamed he, “or I’ll nail your ears to the table!” The fellow ceased dead, and in a moment came staggering out with a furious face. He was a coarse, blotched ruffian, and as drunk as David’s sow. “What, the ’ell,” said he, lurching up his words; “ain’t one song as good as another in this here bordel, mister?” Bob struck like Harlequin, and the wretch went down. I had once before heard the smack of flesh on flesh, and it made my blood jump. There was a fine uproar: we had all risen to our feet; and in the midst I observed the girl (we had forgot the creature had a companion) slip out of the box and away, taking advantage of the confusion to mix with the crowd. I just saw her white face melt from me, and gave one gasp, and started in pursuit. My companions called; but I took no notice, and was lost in a moment. She was making for the Druid’s Walk, unheeding my cries in her blindness. But in a little she began to falter, and then to sway, and I came up with her, and caught her into my arms. “Patty!” I whispered, frantic, “Patty!” She looked at me quite dumb and bewildered, the poor thing; and then sighed, and mechanically put her hair back from her temples. “Patty!” I urged again, “don’t you know me?” And at that, all of a sudden she had burst into tears, and was clinging to me. “Is it you, Diana?” she sobbed, “really you at last? O, I have so longed, since we came, and I knew you was here in London! Take me away; don’t let me be carried back.” She was near choking me with her arms. “Hush!” I said. “What have they been doing with you? Pish, child! that was never--no, no; with all your softness, you couldn’t be such a fool. Who the deuce was it, then? Now, don’t answer; but come with me where we can talk.” We were already being accosted and offered genteel squiring. The child held to me, terrified, while I laughed, and convoyed her in safety to the open, where we were lucky to encounter one of my party. “Is it over?” I asked. “O, faith!” he answered, quizzing my friend, “the manster’s floored; and Parseus refreshing himself on Roman panch; and here, by my soul, ’s Andrameda come to give thanks to her presarver.” “Well,” I said, “Andromeda’s in better hands for the present; so you must e’en take us where we can talk private, while you mount guard.” He looked mightily astonished; but, obeying, conducted us to the farthest limits of the grounds--where was little company but the keepers, put to restrain interlopers from the fields beyond--and there set us on a seat, and withdrew. And the moment we were alone, I took the girl and held her at arm’s length. She was the same as ever, though her figure grown a thought too full for perfection, perhaps. But there were the soft, bashful eyes, and the naïve face, too white under its dark hair, that I loved so well. “So,” I said, nodding my head, “we meet again, like the town and country mice. And are you still under her dominion, you little brown frump?”