to be fond of yourself,’ said I, ’on which account I advise you to seek shelter from the rain as soon as possible.’  ‘I was not talking of myself,’ said the man, ’but my master, to whom the chaise belongs.’  ‘I thought you called the chaise yours,’ said I.  ‘That’s my way of speaking,’ said the man; ’but the chaise is my master’s, and a better master does not live.  Don’t you think we could manage to raise up the chaise?’ ‘And what is to become of the horses?’ said I.  ‘I love my horses well enough,’ said the man; ’but they will take less harm than the chaise.  We two can never lift up that chaise.’  ‘But we three can,’ said Belle; ’at least, I think so; and I know where to find two poles which will assist us.’  ’You had better go to the tent,’ said I, ‘you will be wet through.’  ’I care not for a little wetting,’ said Belle; ’moreover, I have more gowns than one—­see you after the horses.’  Thereupon, I led the horses past the mouth of the dingle, to a place where a gap in the hedge afforded admission to the copse or plantation on the southern side.  Forcing them through the gap, I led them to a spot amidst the trees which I deemed would afford them the most convenient place for standing; then, darting down into the dingle, I brought up a rope, and also the halter of my own nag, and with these fastened them each to a separate tree in the best manner I could.  This done, I returned to the chaise and the postilion.  In a minute or two Belle arrived with two poles which, it seems, had long been lying, overgrown with brushwood, in a ditch or hollow behind the plantation.  With these both she and I set to work in endeavouring to raise the fallen chaise from the ground.

We experienced considerable difficulty in this undertaking; at length, with the assistance of the postilion, we saw our efforts crowned with success—­the chaise was lifted up, and stood upright on three wheels.

{picture:At length, with the assistance of the postilion, we saw our efforts crowned with success—­the chaise was lifted up, and stood upright on three wheels:  page552.jpg}

‘We may leave it here in safety,’ said I, ’for it will hardly move away on three wheels, even supposing it could run by itself; I am afraid there is work here for a wheelwright, in which case I cannot assist you; if you were in need of a blacksmith it would be otherwise.’  ’I don’t think either the wheel or the axle is hurt,’ said the postilion, who had been handling both; ’it is only the linch-pin having dropped out that caused the wheel to fly off; if I could but find the linch-pin!—­though, perhaps, it fell out a mile away.’  ‘Very likely,’ said I; ’but never mind the linch-pin, I can make you one, or something that will serve:  but I can’t stay here any longer, I am going to my place below with this young gentlewoman, and you had better follow us.’  ‘I am ready,’ said the man; and after lifting up the wheel and propping it against the chaise, he went with us, slightly limping, and with his hand pressed to his thigh.