The sacrifice

           MeantimeMileswasgrowingsufficientlytiredofconfinementandinaction.Butnowhistrialcameon,tohisgreatgratification,andhethoughthecouldwelcomeanysentenceprovidedafurtherimprisonmentshouldnotbeapartofit.Buthewasmistakenaboutthat.Hewasinafinefurywhenhefoundhimselfdescribedasa‘sturdyvagabond’andsentencedtosittwohoursinthestocksforbearingthatcharacterandforassaultingthemasterofHendonHall.Hispretensionsastobrothershipwithhisprosecutor,andrightfulheirshiptotheHendonhonoursandestates,wereleftcontemptuouslyunnoticed,asbeingnotevenworthexamination.

           Heragedandthreatenedonhiswaytopunishment,butitdidnogood;hewassnatchedroughlyalongbytheofficers,andgotanoccasionalcuff,besides,forhisirreverentconduct.

           TheKingcouldnotpiercethroughtherabblethatswarmedbehind;sohewasobligedtofollowintherear,remotefromhisgoodfriendandservant.TheKinghadbeennearlycondemnedtothestockshimselfforbeinginsuchbadcompany,buthadbeenletoffwithalectureandawarning,inconsiderationofhisyouth.Whenthecrowdatlasthalted,heflittedfeverishlyfrompointtopointarounditsouterrim,huntingaplacetogetthrough;andatlast,afteradealofdifficultyanddelay,succeeded.Theresathispoorhenchmaninthedegradingstocks,thesportandbuttofadirtymob—he,thebodyservantoftheKingofEngland!Edwardhadheardthesentencepronounced,buthehadnotrealisedthehalfthatitmeant.