He took off his hat as she approached--if not with ease,
yet with the clumsy grace peculiar to him; for, unlike many whose
manners are unobjectionable, he had in his something that might
be called his own. But the best of it was, that he knew nothing
about his manners, beyond the desire to give honor where honor
was due.
He walked with her to the door of the house; for they had agreed
that, from whatever quarter had come the pursuit, and whatever
might have been its object, it would be well to show that she was
attended. They had also arranged at what hour, and at what spot
close at hand, he was to be waiting to accompany her home. But,
although he said nothing about it, Joseph was determined not to
leave the place until she rejoined him.
It was nearly dark when he left her; and when he had wandered up
and down the avenue awhile, it seemed dark enough to return to
the house, and reconnoiter a little.
He had already made the acquaintance of the farmer who occupied a
portion of the great square, behind the part where the family
lived: he had had several of his horses to shoe, and had not only
given satisfaction by the way in which he shod them, but had
interested their owner with descriptions of more than one rare
mode of shoeing to which he had given attention; he was,
therefore, the less shy of being discovered about the place.
From the back he found his way into the roofless hall, and there
paced quietly up and down, measuring the floor, and guessing at
the height and thickness of the walls, and the sort of roof they
had borne.
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