This was said with a vivacity and suddenness that startled the coachman a little. Even Dunscomb seemed surprised at his own animation, and had the grace to change colour. The fact was, that he too was feeling the influence of woman, youthful, lovely, spirited, refined, and surrounded with difficulties. This was the third of Mary Monson’s conquests since her arrest, if John Wilmeter’s wavering admiration could be placed in this category; viz., Timms, the nephew, and the counsellor himself. Neither was absolutely in love; but each and all submitted to an interest of an unusual degree in the person, character and fortunes of this unknown female. Timms, alone, had got so far as to contemplate a marriage; the idea having crossed his mind that it might be almost as useful as popularity, to become the husband of one possessed of so much money. “I’ll not deny her _good_ looks, ’Squire,” returned Stephen Hoof—or Stephen Huff, as he called himself—“but it’s her _bad_ looks that isn’t so much to my fancy. Vhy, sir, once the doctor had a horse that was agreeable enough to the eye, having a good colour and most of the p’ints, but who wasn’t no traveller, not a bit on’t. One that know’d the animal could see where the fault lay, the fetlock j’int being oncommon longish; and that’s what I call _good_ looks and _bad_ looks.” “You mean, Stephen,” said Dunscomb, who had regained all his _sang froid_, “that Mary Monson has a bad-looking ankle, I suppose, wherein I think you miserably mistaken. No matter; she will not have to travel under your lash very far. But, how is it with the reporters?—Do you see any more of your friend that asks so many questions?” “They be an axing set, ’Squire, if anybody can be so called,” returned Stephen, grinning. “Would you think it, sir?—one day when I was a comin’ in from Timbully empty, one on ’em axed me for a ride! a chap as hadn’t his foot in a reg’lar private coach since he was born, a wantin’ to drive about in a wehicle as well known as Doctor McBrain’s best carriage! Them’s the sort of chaps that spreads all the reports that’s going up and down the land, they tell me.” “They do their share of it, Stephen; though there are enough to help them who do not openly belong to their corps. Well; what does your acquaintance want to know now?” “Oncommon curious, ’Squire, about the bones. He axed me more than forty questions; what we thought of them; and about their being male or female bones; and how we know’d; and a great many more sich matters. I answered him accordin’ to my abilities; and so he made an article on the subject, and has sent me the papers.” “An article! Concerning Mary Monson, and on your information?”