LITEKAKY NOTICEa 



looking, blnck-oycd little girl — catches it up, and runs off to hang it l)y the kitchen fire (nn 

 absurd operation, as it is made of oiled silk) — she is back in a monieut with a light, and, lifting 

 my knapsack, t^hows me up to a plciisant room, with a deep, dark-curtained bed — slides out, and 

 asuin is back iu a moment -with slippci-s, and asks to take my shoes to be dried, and wliat would 

 I wish for supper? I decline supper, and intend to go to bed at once. Down she goes, and, after 

 a moment more, in pops the landlord — 'Was you understood aright, sir? — no supper, sir! — not 

 coming down, sir! — going to bed, sir! — direct! ij, sir, without supper, sir!' and while saying this, 

 he bustles about the room, and locks the closet doors, puts the keys in his pocket, and then turns 

 towards me with a suspicious look at my knapsack. ' Yes,' I answer, quietly ; and, drawing out 

 shirt, socks, and tooth-bi'ush, 'I find myself much heated, and wet with perspiration and the rain; 

 I took supper upon the road, and I thought I had best get my clothes ofl" and at once to bed. 

 'Ah! I see, sir; quite right, sir; ah! yes, sir; dry socks too, sir; yes, sir; indeed, sir, I was not 

 aware; beg pardon, sir: but indeed, would you step down stairs a moment, sir — fine fire in the 

 tap, sir — dry yourself, if you would please, for a moment, I would have the room put in better 

 order for you, sir; indeed, the bed is hardly — if you would, sir — thank you, sir.' 



" In the tap-room were three fellows with smock frocks. As I approached, one called to 

 anotlier, who was Aearer the fire, to give me his seat, and offered me, with truly rustic grace and 

 politeness, his half-emptied pot of beer. I have a strong stomach, and dislike to repulse what is 

 meant for kindness; so I tasted it^ and tried to enter into conversation with them. I soon found 

 it was impossible ; for I could make nothing of two-thirds of their replies, and I doubted if they 

 could understand me much better. So I contented myself with listening, while they continued to 

 talk or mumble with each other. Tlie subjects of their conversation were beer and ' the girls ;' of 

 the latter topic they said nothing to be repeated; of the forniei*, they wished the farmers never 

 gave worse drink than that they were now enjoying — 'it was most good for nothing, some of it, 

 what they gave out' And one told how he had had to drink so much of it once, it had made him 

 clear sick ; and then another told how, on the other hand, he had made himself sick one day, when 

 somebody wouldn't give him as much beer as he wanted, by taking a draught of cold water. 



" When the little maid came in to say that my bed was now ' quite ready,' and I rose to with- 

 draw from the circle, they all gave a singular jerk forward of their heads and touched their 

 foreheads with their right hand, as a parting salutation. 



" 'Would you let me take something else down to be dried now, sir, your coat, sir, or anything 

 — the socks, sir ; thank you, sir. Hope you'll sleep well, sir.' 



" I didn't do anything else till, when I stopped, I found it nine o'clock the next morning. There 

 was a steady roar upon the tiles — the rain still continued — I drew the window-curtain, and there 

 was Geoffrey Crayon's picture almost to the life: a sleepy old gray mare 'letting it rain;' a 

 draggle-tailed cock on a smoking dunghill eyeing with the air of a miserable sick saint the riotous 

 orgies of a company of mad ducks deep in their favorite liquor ; half-a-dozen doves huddled 

 moping together on the thatch of the stable — a sombre tone over every thing, and rain, rain, rain- 



"Hope you rested well, sir,' said the landlord as I reached the foot of the crooked staii-s; 'a 

 dirty day, sir. Have your shoes, sir ? What'll you please to have for breakfast, sir ? Steak, sir ? 

 yes, su' — or chop, sir; give you very nice chop, sir; yes, sir, tliank you, sir. Walk in here, 

 sir ! Ready shortly, sir.' 



" To get to the breakfast I was led through the kitchen, a large room with saddles and box-coats 

 and whips and straps hung up with the bacon on the ceiling and walls. The breakfiist-roora 

 (dining-room) was also much larger than any room you would supposed from the front of the 

 house it was likely to contain. Its plan was octagonal, with a single great red-curtained low- 

 window, and stately, high-backed chairs, suggesting a corporation banquet. 



" It is a rainy day in a country inn, dull enough ; nothing to do but write, and for writing I am 

 not inclined. I determine to take the road again and overtake J. and C, who Avill perhaps be 

 waiting for me somewhere on the way to Salisbury. 



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