34 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



hear the voices of the inside passengers, or whenever 

 any bystander addresses them or any one among them, 

 or they address each other, you will hear one phrase 

 repeated over and over again to the most extraordinary 

 extent. It is an ordinary and unpromising phrase 

 enough, but neither more nor less than 'Yes, sir,' 

 But it is adapted to every variety of circumstance, 

 and fills up every pause in the conversation. Thus 

 the time is one o'clock. The scene a place where we 

 are to stay to dine on this journey. The coach drives 

 up to the door of an inn. The day is warm, and 

 there are several idlers lingering about the tavern, 

 and waiting for the public dinner. Amongst them is 

 a stout gentleman in a brown hat swinging himself to 

 and fro in a rocking chair on the pavement. 



" As the coach stops, a gentleman in a straw hat 

 looks out of the window. 



" Straw Hat (to stout gentleman in rocking chair). 

 I reckon that's Judge Jefferson, ain't it ? 



"^ Brown Hat (still swinging, speaking very slowly 

 and without any emotion whatever). Yes, sir, 



" Straw Hat. Warm weather. Judge. 



'' Brown Hat. Yes, sir. 



" Straw Hat. There was a snap of cold last 

 week. 



''Brown Hat. Yes, sir. 



''Straw Hat. Yes, sir. 



" A pause, they look at each other very seriously. 



" Straw Hat. I calculate you'll have got through 

 that case of the corporation, Judge, by this time, now. 



" Brown Hat. Yes, sir. 



" Straw Hat. How did the verdict go, sir ? 



"Brown Hat. For the defendant, sir. 



" Straw Hat (interrogatively). Yes, sir ? 



