Our Odd-men 



world outside our family : surly, dogged, 

 impudent to those who did not understand 

 him — a sullen sot, they called him ; and 

 familiar to the height of impertinence with 

 those who were very much his social 

 superiors. I remember one instance of 

 this, too amusing to miss telling. 



A gentleman came into our office and 

 asked permission to send Sprightly several 

 miles across the downs to bear an im- 

 portant letter to his friend and fellow 

 magistrate, Mr. Martin Hilyard, a gentle- 

 man of an old family, and a man greatly 

 respected in our parts. After a little 

 growling on the part of Sprightly, the 

 gentleman sent him on his way somewhat 

 soothed by the promise of three shillings to 

 be awarded when he should return with 

 the reply. The next day I asked Sprightly 

 how he had fared. ''Nicely, nicely," he 

 said ; " they asked me into the hall and gave 

 me some cold beef and ale, and presently 

 outcomes Martin Hilyard. 'Hullo! Mr. 

 Sprightly,' says he. 'Hullo! Martin Hil- 

 yard,' says I, ' how be you ? ' And then 

 he stood afore the fire chatting with me, 

 and I says, ' I say, Martin Hilyard, do you 

 remember the time when me and you went 

 and got drunk together at the ' Pig and 

 Pitcher?' and he laughed, and there was 

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