CHAPTER XVI.
Gloomy Forebodings--The Postman's Mother--The Letter--Bears and Barons--The Best of Advice.
Nothing occurred to me of any particular moment during the following day.
Isopel Berners did not return; but Mr.Petulengro and his companions came home from the fair early in the morning.

When I saw him, which was about midday, I found him with his face bruised and swelled.

It appeared that, some time after I had left him, he himself perceived that the jockeys with whom he was playing cards were cheating him and his companion; a quarrel ensued, which terminated in a fight between Mr.Petulengro and one of the jockeys, which lasted some time, and in which Mr.Petulengro, though he eventually came off victor, was considerably beaten.

His bruises, in conjunction with his pecuniary loss, which amounted to about seven pounds, were the cause of his being much out of humour; before night, however, he had returned to his usual philosophic frame of mind, and, coming up to me as I was walking about, apologized for his behaviour on the preceding day, and assured me that he was determined, from that time forward, never to quarrel with a friend for giving him good advice.
Two more days passed, and still Isopel Berners did not return.

Gloomy thoughts and forebodings filled my mind.