Peter seemed taken aback at the sight of me, but the boy Prosper, being a gallant lad, and greatly emboldened by the presence of his protector, rose up with a red face, and shouting, "There goes the villain! Have at you!" flung a stone my way, and would have followed it up had not Peter taken his arm and forcibly held him back.
That was quite enough for me.

Had I been guilty of the villainy they suspected, I could not have turned tail more miserably.

Had Peter been there alone, I might perhaps have solaced myself by pitching him out into the river.

As it was, I could find nothing to say or do except to sneak away and leave them--one smiling, the other storming at my retreat.
That was not the worst.

As I passed once more near the minister's house on my way to reach the London road, I came upon my mistress and Jeannette, walking slowly beneath the willows.