Then meanwhile, if the lady will trust herself to me--"
"O! there is no danger for me," she said.
"Go on, my Somerset Solomon," said the groom.
"Then would I take the lady on for a short space to a good woman in
Elmwood there. And on the way this horse shall lose his Worcester
shoe, and I will get Smith Blane, who is an honest fellow, to put on
another; and when the chase is like to be over, I will come back for
him and put you on the cross lane for Castle Carey, which don't join
with the road you came by, till just ere you get into the town."
"There's wit as well as cheese in Somerset. What say you, my
guardian angel?" said Groom William.
"It sounds well," she reluctantly answered. "Does Mr. Norton know
you, young man?"
"No, madam," said Stead, with much stumbling. "But I have seen him
in Bristol. My Lady Elmwood knew of me, and Sir George Elmwood too,
and the Dean could say I was honest."
"Which the face of you says better than your tongue," said the groom.
"Have with you then, my bold little elf," he added, taking the bridle
of the horse on which Ben was still seated.
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