"Who? Have you any body there?" demanded the sheriff.
"I reckon!—We cocht a chap that Jake made affidavy was the madman."
"Let him out then, and beg the man's pardon. I'll answer for Archy Dargan."
My appearance before the astonished damsels was gratifying to neither of us. I was covered with mud and blood,—and they with confusion.
"Oh! Mr. ——, how could we think it was you, such a fright as they've made you."
Such was Miss Emmeline's speech after her recovery. Susannah's was quite as characteristic.
"I am so very sorry, Mr. ——."
"Spare your regrets, ladies," I muttered ungraciously, as I leapt on my horse. "I wish you a very pleasant morning."
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" yelled the bedlamite, writhing and bounding in his leash—"a very pleasant morning."
The damsels took to their heels, and went off in one direction quite as fast as I did in the other. Since that day, dear reader, I have never suffered myself to scare a fool, or to fall in love with a pair of twins; and if ever I marry, take my word for it, the happy woman shall neither be a Susannah, nor an Emmeline.