290 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



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 closely, 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 moment with a light, and, lifting my knap- 

 sack, shows me up to a pleasant room, with a deep, dark-curtained 

 bed slides out, and is again 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. 

 " Was you understood aright, sir ? no supper, sir ? not coming 

 down, sir ? going to bed, sir ? directly, sir, without supper, sir ? " 

 and while saying this, he bustles about the room, 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, quiet- 

 ly; and, drawing out shirt, socks, and tooth-brush, "I took 

 supper upon the road, and I thought I had best get my clothes 

 off, and at once to bed." "Ah! I see, sir; quite right, sir; ah! 

 yes, sir ; dry stockings 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 another, who was nearer the fire, to 

 give me his seat, and offered me, with truly rustic grace, his half- 

 emptied pot of beer. I dislike to repulse what is meant for 



