Justherewasthewaysideshopofasmith;andnowarrivedalandedproprietorwhohadboughtthisgirlafewmilesback,deliverableherewhereherironscouldbetakenoff.Theywereremoved;thentherewasasquabblebetweenthegentlemanandthedealerastowhichshouldpaytheblacksmith.Themomentthegirlwasdeliveredfromherirons,sheflungherself,alltearsandfranticsobbings,intothearmsoftheslavewhohadturnedawayhisfacewhenshewaswhipped.Hestrainedhertohisbreast,andsmotheredherfaceandthechild\'swithkisses,andwashedthemwiththerainofhistears.Isuspected.Iinquired.Yes,Iwasright;itwashusbandandwife.Theyhadtobetornapartbyforce;thegirlhadtobedraggedaway,andshestruggledandfoughtandshriekedlikeonegonemadtillaturnoftheroadhidherfromsight;andevenafterthat,wecouldstillmakeoutthefadingplaintofthoserecedingshrieks.Andthehusbandandfather,withhiswifeandchildgone,nevertobeseenbyhimagaininlife?——well,thelookofhimonemightnotbearatall,andsoIturnedaway;butIknewIshouldnevergethispictureoutofmymindagain,andthereitistothisday,towringmyheartstringswheneverIthinkofit.
Weputupattheinninavillagejustatnightfall,andwhenIrosenextmorningandlookedabroad,Iwaswarewhereaknightcameridinginthegoldengloryofthenewday,andrecognizedhimforknightofmine——SirOzanaleCureHardy.Hewasinthegentlemen\'sfurnishingline,andhismissionaryingspecialtywasplughats.Hewasclothedallinsteel,inthebeautifulestarmorofthetime——uptowherehishelmetoughttohavebeen;buthehadn\'tanyhelmet,heworeashinystove-pipehat,andwasridiculousaspectacleasonemightwanttosee.Itwasanotherofmysurreptitiousschemesforextinguishingknighthoodbymakingitgrotesqueandabsurd.SirOzana\'ssaddlewashungaboutwithleatherhatboxes,andeverytimeheovercameawanderingknighthesworehimintomyserviceandfittedhimwithaplugandmadehimwearit.IdressedandrandowntowelcomeSirOzanaandgethisnews.
\"Howistrade?\"Iasked.
\"YewillnotethatIhavebutthesefourleft;yetweretheysixteenwhenasIgotmefromCamelot.\"
\"Why,youhavecertainlydonenobly,SirOzana.Wherehaveyoubeenforagingoflate?\"