The gentleman who had been smitten by her beauty now urged her very politely to descend; which, taking the protection of his arm, she accordingly did.
He made some very gallant speeches to her as she stepped out; and she must have been very much occupied by them, or wrapt up in her own thoughts, or stupefied by sleep, fever, and opium, for she did not take any heed of the place into which she was going: which, had she done, she would probably have preferred remaining in the coach, dinnerless and ill.

Indeed, the inn into which she was about to make her entrance was no other than the "Bugle," from which she set forth at the commencement of this history; and which then, as now, was kept by her relative, the thrifty Mrs.Score.That good landlady, seeing a lady, in a smart hood and cloak, leaning, as if faint, upon the arm of a gentleman of good appearance, concluded them to be man and wife, and folks of quality too; and with much discrimination, as well as sympathy, led them through the public kitchen to her own private parlour, or bar, where she handed the lady an armchair, and asked what she would like to drink.

By this time, and indeed at the very moment she heard her aunt's voice, Mrs.Catherine was aware of her situation; and when her companion retired, and the landlady, with much officiousness, insisted on removing her hood, she was quite prepared for the screech of surprise which Mrs.Score gave on dropping it, exclaiming, "Why, law bless us, it's our Catherine!" "I'm very ill, and tired, aunt," said Cat; "and would give the world for a few hours' sleep." "A few hours and welcome, my love, and a sack-posset too.

You do look sadly tired and poorly, sure enough.

Ah, Cat, Cat! you great ladies are sad rakes, I do believe.