118 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



from one inn to another, not finding my friends, and finally,- 

 muddy, wet, and tired enough, stopped at what seemed the 

 last in the street, a house of humble appearance. 



I desired to be showed to my room. Master, mistress, 

 maid, and Boots, immediately surrounded and eyed me close 

 ly, and I could not but remember that I might, probably, 

 bear a suspicious appearance to them. As I take off my cape, 

 maid a nice, kind-looking, black-eyed little girl catches it 

 up, and runs off to hang it by the kitchen fire (an absurd 

 operation, as it is made of oiled silk) she is back in a mo 

 ment with a light, and, lifting my knapsack, shows me up to 

 a pleasant room, with a deep, dark-curtained bed slides out, 

 and again is back in a moment with slippers, and asks to take 

 my shoes to be dried, and what 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 &quot; Was 

 you understood aright, sir ? no supper, sir ! not coming 

 down, sir ! going to bed, sir ! directly, sir, without supper, 

 sir !&quot; 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. 

 &quot; Yes,&quot; I answer, quietly ; and, drawing out shirt, socks, and 

 tooth-brush, &quot; I find myself much heated, and wet with per 

 spiration and the rain ; I took supper upon the road, and I 

 thought I had best get my clothes off, and at once to bed.&quot; 

 &quot; 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 th$ 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.&quot; 



Tn the tap-room were three fellows with smock frocks. 



