238 SAM DARLING^S REMINISCENCES 



of the high road outside. I slipped on my dressing 

 gown and went down to him. 



" What's the matter, my man ? " I said. He 

 grunted and his eyes rolled. I asked if I should 

 send for a cup of tea for him. He grunted again, 

 and asked why I was so solicitous for his welfare. 



" I thought you were in a very dangerous posi- 

 tion here in the road, and that perhaps you were 

 iU.'' 



He did not accept my of!er, and I sent for 

 the sergeant of police, and had him conveyed to 

 the station. He was recovering from delirium 

 tremens. The only things found on him were one 

 halfpenny and a button. He was an ordinary 

 tramp. It gave my wife and the servants in the 

 house a serious shock. 



Many tramps call at Beckhampton, it being 



situated on the high road. At a more recent date 



a man came to the kitchen door and 

 Another 



unwelcome said something very rude to the maids, 

 visitor 



and frightened them. They sent into 



the house for me, and he had gone round to the 



front door. I asked him what he wanted. He 



was extremely rude to me, so I said : 



" You are taking a great liberty ; you have no 

 right here begging." 



" Well," said he, " you never turn a poor man 

 away here." 



