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whole verse of the Bailiff's Daughter of Islington：…
〃And as she went along the high road；
The weather being hot and dry；
She sat her down upon a green bank；
And her true love came riding by。〃
That true lovers are given to riding by； in ballads； I know very
well； but I hardly supposed they did so in real life； especially
when every precaution had been taken to avert such a catastrophe。
I had told the Barbury Green postmistress； on the morning of my
arrival； not to give the Thornycroft address to anybody whatsoever；
but finding； as the days passed； that no one was bold enough or
sensible enough to ask for it； I haughtily withdrew my prohibition。
About this time I began sending envelopes； carefully addressed in a
feigned hand； to a certain person at the Oxenbridge Hydro。 These
envelopes contained no word of writing； but held； on one day； only
a bit of down from a hen's breast； on another； a goose…quill； on
another； a glossy tail…feather； on another； a grain of corn； and so
on。 These trifles were regarded by me not as degrading or
unmaidenly hints and suggestions； but simply as tests of
intelligence。 Could a man receive tokens of this sort and fail to
put two and two together？ I feel that I might possibly support
life with a domineering and autocratic husband；and there is every
prospect that I shall be called upon to do so；but not with a
stupid one。 Suppose one were linked for ever to a man capable of
asking；〃Did YOU send those feathers？ 。 。 。 How was I to guess？ 。
。 。 How was a fellow to know they came from you？ 。 。 。 What on
earth could I suppose they meant？ 。 。 。 What clue did they offer me
as to your whereabouts？ 。 。 。 Am I a Sherlock Holmes？〃No； better
eternal celibacy than marriage with such a being！
These were the thoughts that had been coursing through my goose…
girl mind while I had been selling dressed poultry； but in some way
they had not prepared me for the appearance of the aforesaid true
love。
To see the very person whom one has left civilisation to avoid is
always more or less surprising； and to make the meeting less
likely； Buffington is even farther from Oxenbridge than Barbury
Green。 The creature was well mounted （ominous； when he came to
override my caprice！） and he looked bigger； and； yes； handsomer；
though that doesn't signify； and still more determined than when I
saw him last； although goodness knows that timidity and feebleness
of purpose were not in striking evidence on that memorable
occasion。 I had drawn up under the shade of a tree ostensibly to
eat some cherries； thinking that if I turned my face away I might
pass unrecognised。 It was a stupid plan； for if I had whipped up
the mare and driven on； he of course； would have had to follow； and
he has too much dignity and self…respect to shriek recriminations
into a woman's ear from a distance。
He approached with deliberation； reined in his horse； and lifted
his hat ceremoniously。 He has an extremely shapely head； but I did
not show that the sight of it melted in the least the ice of my
resolve； whereupon we talked； not very freely at first；men are so
stiff when they consider themselves injured。 However； silence is
even more embarrassing than conversation； so at length I begin：…
Bailiff's Daughter。〃It is a lovely day。〃
True Love。〃Yes； but the drought is getting rather oppressive；
don't you think？〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃The crops certainly need rain； and the feed
is becoming scarce。〃
True Love。〃Are you a farmer's wife？〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃Oh no！ that is a promotion to look forward
to； I am now only a Goose Girl。〃
True Love。〃Indeed！ If I wished to be severe I might remark：
that I am sure you have found at last your true vocation！〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃It was certainly through no desire to please
YOU that I chose it。〃
True Love。〃I am quite sure of that！ Are you staying in this
part？〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃Oh no！ I live many miles distant； over an
extremely rough road。 And you？〃
True Love。〃I am still at the Hydropathic； or at least my luggage
is there。〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃It must be very pleasant to attract you so
long。〃
True Love。〃Not so pleasant as it was。〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃No？ A new proprietor； I suppose。〃
True Love。〃No； same proprietor； but the house is empty。〃
Bailiff's Daughter （yawning purposely）。〃That is strange； the
hotels are usually so full at this season。 Why did so many leave？〃
True Love。〃As a matter of fact； only one left。 〃Full〃 and
〃empty〃 are purely relative terms。 I call a hotel full when it has
you in it； empty when it hasn't。〃
Bailiff's Daughter （dying to laugh； but concealing her feelings）。
〃I trust my bulk does not make the same impression on the general
public！ Well； I won't detain you longer； good afternoon； I must go
home to my evening work。〃
True Love。〃I will accompany you。〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃If you are a gentleman you will remain where
you are。〃
True Love。〃In the road？ Perhaps； but if I am a man I shall
follow you； they always do； I notice。 What are those foolish
bundles in the back of that silly cart？〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃Feed for the pony； please； sir； fish for
dinner； randans and barley meal for the poultry； and four unsold
rabbits。 Wouldn't you like them？ Only one and sixpence apiece。
Shot at three o'clock this morning。〃
True Love。〃Thanks； I don't like mine shot so early。〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃Oh； well！ doubtless I shall be able to
dispose of them on my way home； though times is 'ard！〃
True Love。〃Do you mean that you will 〃peddle〃 them along the
road？〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃You understand me better than usual；in fact
to perfection。〃
He dismounts and strides to the back of the cart； lifts the covers；
seizes the rabbits； flings some silver contemptuously into the
basket； and looks about him for a place to bury his bargain。 A
small boy approaching in the far distance will probably bag the
game。
Bailiff's Daughter （modestly）。〃Thanks for your trade； sir； rather
ungraciously bestowed； and we 'opes for a continuance of your past
fyvors。〃
True Love （leaning on the wheel of the trap）。〃Let us stop this
nonsense。 What did you hope to gain by running away？〃
Bailiff 's Daughter。〃Distance and absence。〃
True Love。〃You knew you couldn't prevent my offering myself to
you sometime or other。〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃Perhaps not； but I could at least defer it；
couldn't I？〃
True Love。〃Why postpone the inevitable？〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃Doubtless I shrank from giving you the pain
of a refusal。〃
True Love。〃Perhaps； but do you know what I suspect？〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃I'm not a suspicious person； thank goodness！〃
True Love。〃That； on the contrary； you are wilfully withholding
from me the joy of acceptance。〃
Bailiff's Daughter。〃If I intended to accept you； why did I run
away？〃
True Love。〃To make yourself more desirable and precious； I
suppose。〃
Bailiff's Daughter （with the most confident coquetry）。〃Did I
succeed？〃
True Love。〃No； you failed utterly。〃
Bailiff's Daughter （secretly piqued）。〃Then I am glad I tried it。〃
True Love。〃You couldn't succeed because you were superlatively
desirable and precious already； but y