THEPURSUIT
XX
AndnowtotellofMr。Hoopdriver，risingwiththesun，vigilant，active，wonderful，thepracticablehalfofthelead—framedwindowstuckopen，earsalert，aneyeflickeringincessantlyinthecornerpanes，inobliqueglancesattheAngelfront。Mrs。Wardorwantedhimtohavehisbreakfastdownstairsinherkitchen，butthatwouldhavemeantabandoningthewatch，andheheldoutstrongly。Thebicycle，cap—a—pie，occupied，underprotest，astrategicpositionintheshop。Hewasexpectantbysixinthemorning。Byninehorriblefearsoppressedhimthathisquesthadescapedhim，andhehadtoreconnoitretheAngelyardinordertosatisfyhimself。Therehefoundtheostler（Howarethemightyfalleninthesedecadentdays！）brushingdownthebicyclesofthechase，andhereturnedrelievedtoMrs。Wardor’spremises。Andabouttentheyemerged，androdequietlyuptheNorthStreet。Hewatchedthemuntiltheyturnedthecornerofthepostoffice，andthenoutintotheroadandupaftertheminfinestyle！Theywentbytheengine—housewheretheoldstocksandthewhippingpostsare，andontotheChichesterroad，andhefollowedgallantly。Sothisgreatchasebegan。
Theydidnotlookround，andhekeptthemjustwithinsight，gettingdownifhechancedtodrawcloselyuponthemroundacorner。Byridingvigorouslyhekeptquiteconvenientlynearthem，fortheymadebutlittlehurry。Hegrewhotindeed，andhiskneeswerealittlestifftobeginwith，butthatwasall。Therewaslittledangeroflosingthem，forathinchalkydustlayupontheroad，andthetrackofhertirewasmilledlikeashilling，andhiswasachequeredribbonalongtheway。SotheyrodebyCobden’smonumentandthroughtheprettiestofvillages，untilatlastthedownsrosesteeplyahead。Theretheystoppedawhileattheonlyinnintheplace，andMr。Hoopdrivertookupapositionwhichcommandedtheinndoor，andmoppedhisfaceandthirstedandsmokedaRedHerringcigarette。Theyremainedintheinnforsometime。Anumberofchubbyinnocentsreturninghomefromschool，stoppedandformedalineinfrontofhim，andwatchedhimquietlybutfirmlyforthespaceoftenminutesorso。\"Goaway，\"saidhe，andtheyonlyseemedquietlyinterested。Heaskedthemalltheirnamesthen，andtheyansweredindistinctmurmurs。
Hegaveitupatlastandbecamepassiveonhisgate，andsoatlengththeytiredofhim。