The sight explained itself; and the honest domestic expressing some sorrow for the sufferer, but more for his master, took his place on the other side of the mare, and aided Noble in the task of supporting the stranger, who was so weak and exhausted that he could hardly be held upon the saddle by their joint exertions for the rest of the road.
Although not a syllable had been uttered by the object of their care, that was intelligible to either, and although Noble had not mentioned a word about having seen him at Wells, still Peter had an instinctive dislike to the man's features and his dress--from both of which he pronounced him a Puritan. He went so far as to provoke an angry rebuke from his master for opposing the benevolent resolution of the latter to take him to his own house.
"Surely," said Peter, "a pallet at the Jolly Woodman will serve his turn:--he'll be well enough taken care of by Dame Crowther: why bring him home to trouble and frighten my good mistress, and to make a fuss, and a dirt, and a sick house of the parsonage?"
"Peter," said Noble, "how would you like to be dealt by if you had fallen among thieves, and lay bruised and bleeding, and without a friend or a penny?"
"Why, I should think an inn good enough for me; and so it is writ in the Bible."
"Peter you are hard--and know not what spirit you are of--and speak foolishly."
"Ah! well I mind what you said once about that parable, and how you told us that had the good Samaritan's house been over against the inn he would have taken him in at his own gate;--but somehow I don't like this fancy of yours--it will be a bad job:--when his saintship is warmed by your fire, mayhap he will turn out a serpent."
"Never use that word lightly, Peter. I have often forbade you to trifle with it--duties are ours, events are God's. I shall certainly take this man in." Having thus decided, they went forward to the parsonage in silence. Mistress Noble came out eagerly as soon as they appeared. Her mind was soon quieted on the surprise which the sight of the wounded stranger caused her, and her kind and hospitable heart acquiesced instantly to the proposal of her good husband.
The sufferer was at once carefully put to bed; and Noble, as by his own bright fire he put on the warm dry vestments which he found ready for him in his study, revolved the singular incidents of the eventful day with wonder, gratitude, and a calm confiding faith.