‘What’s that light in the sky?’ exclaimed Sophy, starting up to speak to her father on the driving seat.

‘A bonfire,’ said Mr. Kendal.  ’If we had remembered that it was the 5th of November, we would not have stayed out so late.’  The next moment he drew up the horses, exclaiming, ’Mr. Hope, will you have a lift?’

Mr. Hope, rather to the ladies’ surprise, took the vacant place beside Sophy, instead of climbing up to the box.  He had been to see his intended parish, and was an enviable man, for he was as proud of it as if it had been an intended wife, and Albinia, who knew it for a slice of dreary heath, was entertained with his raptures.  Church, schools, and parsonage, each in their way were perfection or at least promised to be, and he had never been so much elevated or so communicative.  The speechless little curate seemed to have vanished.

The road, as may be remembered, did not run parallel with the curve of the river, but cutting straight across, entered Bayford over the hill, passing a small open bit of waste land, where stood a few cottages, the outskirts of the town.

Suddenly coming from an overshadowed lane upon this common, a glare of light flashed on them, showing them each other’s faces, and casting the shadow of the carriage into full relief.  The horses shied violently, and they beheld an enormous bonfire raised on a little knoll about twenty yards in front of them, surrounded by a dense crowd, making every species of hideous noise.

Mr. Kendal checked the horses’ start, and Mr. Hope sprang to their heads.  They were young and scarcely trustworthy, their restless movements showed alarm, and it was impossible to turn them without both disturbing the crowd and giving them a fuller view of the object of their terror.  Mr. Kendal came down, and reconnoitring for a moment, said, ’You had better get out while we try to lead them round, we will go home by Squash Lane.’

Just then a brilliant glow of white flame, and a tremendous roar of applause, put the horses in such an agony, that they would have been too much for Mr. Hope, had not Mr. Kendal started to his assistance, and a man standing by likewise caught the rein.  He was a respectable carpenter who lived on the heath, and touching his hat as he recognised them, said, ’Sir, if the ladies would come into my house, and you too, sir.  The people are going on in an odd sort of way, and Mrs. Kendal would be frightened.  I’ll take care of the carriage.’

Mr. Kendal went to the side of the carriage, and asked the ladies if they were alarmed.

‘O no!’ answered Albinia, ‘it is great fun;’ and as the horses fidgeted again, ‘it feels like a review.’

‘You had better get out,’ he said; ’I must try to back the horses till I can turn them without running over any one.  Will you go into the house?  You did not expect to find Bayford so riotous,’ he added with a smile, as he assisted Genevieve out.