122 THE BATH ROAD 



dropping a half-curtsey, informed him, with a sneer- 

 ino' laiio-h that he mio:ht go and look for another 

 bedroom, for the one she had by mistake shown him 

 was already engaged. He protested so loudly at this 

 that the landlord, who was a good soul, surely, came, 

 and with great courtesy desired another room to be 

 shown him, which, however, contained another bed. 



Underneath was the tap-room, from which ascended 

 the ribaldries and low conversation of some objection- 

 able people who were drinking and singing songs 

 down there, and scarcely had he dropped off to sleep 

 before the fellow who was to sleep in the other bed 

 came stumbling into the room. After colliding with 

 the Pastor's bed, he found his own, and got into it 

 without the tiresome formality of removing boots and 

 clothes. 



The next morning the Pastor prepared to depart, 

 needlessly annoyed by that eternal feminine — the 

 grumbling chambermaid, who informed him that on 

 no account should he sleep another night there. As 

 he was going away, the surly waiter placed himself on 

 the stairs, saying, " Pray remember the waiter," and 

 when in receipt of the three-halfpence which our 

 traveller bestowed, he cursed that inoffensive German 

 with the heartiest imprecations. At the door stood 

 the maid, saying, "Pray remember the chamber- 

 maid." " Yes, yes," says the Pastor (a worm will 

 turn), " I shall long remember your most ill-mannered 

 behaviour," and so gave her nothing. 



Through Slough he went, by Salt Hill, to Maiden- 

 head. At Salt Hill, which could hardly be called a 

 village, he saw a barber's shop. For putting his hair 



