“You will, perhaps, sleep there?”
“Perhaps I shall.”
“You are too young to travel alone.”
“And you are too old to make such impertinent remarks,” retorted Godolphin, reddening with anger.
“Faith, I like this spirit, my Hotspur,” said the stranger, coolly. “If you are really going to put up for the night at B——, suppose we sup together?”
“And who and what are you?” asked Percy, bluntly.
“Anything and everything! in other words, an actor!”
“And the young lady——?’
“Is our prima donna. In fact, except the driver, the coach holds none but the ladies and gentlemen of our company. We have made an excellent harvest at A——, and we are now on our way to the theatre at B——; pretty theatre it is, too, and has been known to hold seventy-one pounds eight shillings.” Here the actor fell into a reverie; and Percy, moving nearer to the coach-door, glanced at the damsel, who returned the look with a laugh which, though coquettish, was too low and musical to be called cold.
“So that gentleman, so free and easy in his manners, is not your husband?”