ere not to be fulfilled, and for this I was sufficiently grateful. Now as I lay, blinking up to the moon, I presently noticed that we had come to a standstill and I listened expectantly for the jing

rambling farmhouse. Evidently the wain had reached its destination, wherever that might be, and the sleepy wagoner, forgetful of my presence, had tumbled

y drowsy ears could make nothing of. Little by little, however, the sound developed itself into a somewhat mournful melody or refrain, c

n, who muf

when his

f that he w

fin than h

ff by a handsome pair of black whiskers. As I watched him, he laid aside the pitchfork he had b

reaking short off in the

o!" s

doin' u

ame the individual, mentioned in your song, for his passionate attachment to muffins. At t

tial to muf

ecially seeing I have not broken

'at be doin'

een aslee

'ave ye got a-sleepin'

r custom holds, let shame say what it

, come on down out o' my hay." As he said this he eyed me with rather a truculent air, likewise he clenched his fist. Thinking it

o thump 'ee on the

at

' so free

hould earnestly endeavor

ly over from head to foot

a common tramper,

swered, brushing the

ey stopped, evidently arrested by my waistcoat, a flowered satin of the very latest cut, for which I had paid forty shillings in the Haymarket, scarcely a week befo

ighty fine w

think so

t be the cost of a weski

a week ago," I answered. The fellow very slowly closed one eye at the

n!" sa

ess, it's t

ortal good agen the cold-not reachin' fur enough, even if it d

!" said I,

weskit, there's no denyin', an' well worth a

ubt of it

staring hard at the handle of the pitchfork

!" s

p button of his left gaiter, "woman is uncommon fond

nmoved, I believe, and nothing can set off a pair of fin

!" nodded

ssing my hand over my smooth lip

thoughtful shake of the head, "l

u have,"

ll me," he ans

that you ought to have a flowe

rue, to be sur

s one is-fifteen

ney, master," said

deal less than

n, an' ten shillin' is my pr

the garment in question, having first felt through the pockets, handed it to him, whereupon he slowly counted the ten shillings into my hand;

un, up to Lunnon," said he, "f

hillings

money! But it's a grand

do you?" said I, pocke

a' cost a sight o' money-a powerful sight!" I picked up my knapsack and, slipping it on, took my staff, and turned t

y shoulder, "I neither eat nor dr

hose forty

cise

nage to mak' it twenty-or even twenty-five, I might mak' some shift to believ

le," said I. "Wheer be goin'?" he inquired,

of the road,

etty fur-that theer r

m going to th

t to

ghost of an ide

you w

," s

thatch

" sa

r a s

" sa

e a p

" sa

e a

" sa

k-Lord love me, wh

iversity

e, ma

rn one out a highly educate

self, master. Here I be wi' a good farm, an' money in

aistcoat that I may eat," said I. Being come to the gate of the

at, ma

e of the outhouses, presently returned with a towel. And, resting the towel upon the pump-head

s the makin's of a man in you as might do summat-say in the plough or smithin' way, but it's easy to see as you're a gentlem

ou believe it was fort

sker, and stared very hard

e at length, "mak' it t

do the best

ek my breakfast at th

Cock,' a mile an' a

the better," said I, "for

ker again, "I might stretch a pint or two an'

d, opening the gate, I started off down the road