confessthatIwassomewhatafraid，butIconsideredmyselfinsomedegreeundertheprotectionofthefamousSergeant，and，clenchingmyfist，Iwentatmyfoe，usingtheguardwhichmyallyrecommended。TheresultcorrespondedtoacertaindegreewiththepredictionsoftheSergeant；Igavemyfoeabloodynoseandablackeye，though，notwithstandingmyrecentlessonintheartofself—defence，hecontrivedtogivemetwoorthreeclumsyblows。FromthatmomentIwastheespecialfavouriteoftheSergeant，whogavemefurtherlessons，sothatinalittletimeIbecameaveryfairboxer，beatingeverybodyofmyownsizewhoattackedme。Theoldgentleman，however，mademepromisenevertobequarrelsome，nortoturnhisinstructionstoaccount，exceptinself—
defence。Ihavealwaysborneinmindmypromise，andhavemadeitapointofconsciencenevertofightunlessabsolutelycompelled。Folksmayrailagainstboxingiftheyplease，butbeingabletoboxmaysometimesstandaquietmaningoodstead。HowshouldIhavefaredto—day，butfortheinstructionsofSergeantBroughton？Butforthem，thebrutalruffianwhoinsultedmemusthavepassedunpunished。HewillnotsoonforgetthelessonwhichIhavejustgivenhim—theonlylessonhecouldunderstand。Whatwouldhavebeentheuseofreasoningwithafellowofthatdescription？BraveoldBroughton！Iowehimmuch。\"
\"Andyourmanneroffighting，\"saidI，\"wasthemanneremployedbySergeantBroughton？\"
\"Yes，\"saidmynewacquaintance；\"itwasthemannerinwhichhebeateveryonewhoattemptedtocontendwithhim，till，inanevilhour，heenteredtheringwithSlack，withoutanytrainingorpreparation，andbyachanceblowlostthebattletoamanwhohadbeenbeatenwitheasebythosewho，inthehandsofBroughton，appearedlikesomanychildren。ItwasthewayoffightingofhimwhofirsttaughtEnglishmentoboxscientifically，whowastheheadandfatherofthefightersofwhatisnowcalledtheoldschool，thelastofwhichwereJohnsonandBigBen。\"
\"Awonderfulman，thatBigBen，\"saidI。
\"Hewasso，\"saidtheelderlyindividual；\"buthaditnotbeenforBroughton，IquestionwhetherBenwouldhaveeverbeenthefighterhewas。Oh！therewasnoonelikeoldBroughton；butforhimIshouldatthepresentmomentbesneakingalongtheroad，pursuedbythehissingsandhootingsofthedirtyflatterersofthatblackguardcoachman。\"
\"Whatdidyoumean，\"saidI，\"bythosewordsofyours，thatthecoachmenwouldspeedilydisappearfromtheroads？\"
\"Imeant，\"saidhe，\"thatanewmethodoftravellingisabouttobeestablished，whichwillsupersedetheold。Iamapoorengraver，asmyfatherwasbeforeme；butengravingisanintellectualtrade，andbyfollowingit，IhavebeenbroughtincontactwithsomeofthecleverestmeninEngland。Ithasevenmademeacquaintedwiththeprojectorofthescheme，whichhehastoldmemanyofthewisestheadsofEnglandhavebeendreamingofduringaperiodofsixhundredyears，andwhichitseemswasalludedtobyacertainBrazenHeadinthestory—bookofFriarBacon，whoisgenerallysupposedtohavebeenawizard，butinrealitywasagreatphilosopher。Youngman，inlessthantwentyyears，bywhichtimeIshallbedeadandgone，Englandwillbesurroundedwithroadsofmetal，onwhicharmiesmaytravelwithmightyvelocity，andofwhichthewallsofbrassandironbywhichthefriarproposedtodefendhisnativelandarethetypes。\"Hethen，shakingmebythehand，proceededonhisway，whilstIreturnedtotheinn。
CHAPTERXXVII
FrancisArdry—HisMisfortunes—DogandLionFight—GreatMenoftheWorld。
AFEWdaysafterthecircumstancewhichIhavelastcommemorated，itchancedthat，asIwasstandingatthedooroftheinn，oneofthenumerousstage—coacheswhichwereinthehabitofstoppingthere，droveup，andseveralpassengersgotdown。Ihadassistedawomanwithacoupleofchildrentodismount，andhadjustdeliveredtoheraband—box，whichappearedtobeheronlyproperty，whichshehadbeggedmetofetchdownfromtheroof，whenIfeltahandlaiduponmyshoulder，andheardavoiceexclaim，\"Isitpossible，oldfellow，thatIfindyouinthisplace？\"Iturnedround，and，wrappedinalargebluecloak，IbeheldmygoodfriendFrancisArdry。Ishookhimmostwarmlybythehand，andsaid，\"Ifyouaresurprisedtoseeme，Iamnolesssotoseeyou；whereareyouboundto？\"
\"IamboundforL—；atanyrate，Iambookedforthatsea—
port，\"saidmyfriendinreply。
\"Iamsorryforit，\"saidI，\"forinthatcaseweshallhavetopartinaquarterofanhour，thecoachbywhichyoucamestoppingnolonger。\"
\"Andwhitherareyoubound？\"demandedmyfriend。
\"Iamstoppingatpresentinthishouse，quiteundeterminedastowhattodo。\"
\"Thencomealongwithme，\"saidFrancisArdry。
\"ThatIcanscarcelydo，\"saidI；\"IhaveahorseinthestallwhichIcannotaffordtoruinbyracingtoL—bythesideofyourcoach。\"
Myfriendmusedforamoment：\"IhavenoparticularbusinessatL—，\"saidhe；\"Iwasmerelygoingthithertopassadayortwo，tillanaffair，inwhichIamdeeplyinterested，atC—
shallcomeoff。IthinkIshallstaywithyouforfour—and—
twentyhoursatleast；Ihavebeenrathermelancholyoflate，andcannotaffordtopartwithafriendlikeyouatthepresentmoment；itisanunexpectedpieceofgoodfortunetohavemetyou；andIhavenotbeenveryfortunateoflate，\"headded，sighing。
\"Well，\"saidI，\"Iamgladtoseeyouoncemore，whetherfortunate，ornot；whereisyourbaggage？\"
\"Yontrunkismine，\"saidFrancis，pointingtoatrunkofblackRussianleatheruponthecoach。
\"Wewillsoonhaveitdown，\"saidI；andatawordwhichI
gavetooneofthehangers—onoftheinn，thetrunkwastakenfromthetopofthecoach。\"Now，\"saidItoFrancisArdry，\"followme，Iamapersonofsomeauthorityinthishouse；\"
thereuponIledFrancisArdryintothehouse，andawordwhichIsaidtoawaiterforthwithinstalledFrancisArdryinacomfortableprivatesitting—room，andhistrunkintheverybestsleeping—roomofourextensiveestablishment。
Itwasnowaboutoneo’clock：FrancisArdryordereddinnerfortwo，tobereadyatfour，andapintofsherrytobebroughtforthwith，whichIrequestedmyfriendthewaitermightbetheverybest，andwhichineffectturnedoutasI
requested；wesatdown，andwhenwehaddrunktoeachother’shealth，FrankrequestedmetomakeknowntohimhowIhadcontrivedtofreemyselffrommyembarrassmentsinLondon，whatIhadbeenaboutsinceIquittedthatcity，andthepresentpostureofmyaffairs。
IrelatedtoFrancisArdryhowIhadcomposedtheLifeofJosephSell，andhowthesaleofittothebooksellerhadenabledmetoquitLondonwithmoneyinmypocket，whichhadsupportedmeduringalongcourseoframbleinthecountry，intotheparticularsofwhichI，however，didnotenterwithanyconsiderabledegreeoffulness。Isummedupmyaccountbysayingthat\"Iwasatpresentakindofoverlookerinthestablesoftheinn，hadstillsomepoundsinmypurse，and，moreover，acapitalhorseinthestall。\"
\"Noveryagreeablepostureofaffairs，\"saidFrancisArdry，lookingratherseriouslyatme。
\"Imakenocomplaints，\"saidI，\"myprospectsarenotverybright，itistrue，butsometimesIhavevisionsbothwakingandsleeping，which，thoughalwaysstrange，areinvariablyagreeable。Lastnight，inmychambernearthehayloft，I
dreamtthatIhadpassedoveranalmostinterminablewilderness—anenormouswallrosebeforeme，thewall，methought，wasthegreatwallofChina：—strangefiguresappearedtobebeckoningtomefromthetopofthewall；suchvisionsarenotexactlytobesneeredat。Notthatsuchphantasmagoria，\"saidI，raisingmyvoice，\"aretobecomparedforamomentwithsuchdesirablethingsasfashion，fineclothes，chequesfromuncles，parliamentaryinterest，theloveofsplendidfemales。Ah！woman’slove，\"saidI，andsighed。
\"What’sthematterwiththefellow？\"saidFrancisArdry。
\"Thereisnothinglikeit，\"saidI。
\"Likewhat？\"
\"Love，divinelove，\"saidI。
\"Confoundlove，\"saidFrancisArdry，\"Ihatetheveryname；I
havemademyselfaprettyfoolbyit，buttrustmeforeverbeingatsuchfollyagain。InanevilhourIabandonedmyformerpursuitsandamusementsforit；inonemorningspentatJoey’stherewasmorerealpleasurethanin—\"
\"Surely，\"saidI，\"youarenothankeringafterdog—fightingagain，asportwhichnonebutthegrossandunrefinedcareanythingfor？No，one’sthoughtsshouldbeoccupiedbysomethinghigherandmorerationalthandog—fighting；andwhatbetterthanlove—divinelove？Oh，there’snothinglikeit！\"
\"Pray，don’ttalknonsense，\"saidFrancisArdry。
\"Nonsense，\"saidI；\"whyIwasrepeating，tothebestofmyrecollection，whatIheardyousayonaformeroccasion。\"
\"IfeverItalkedsuchstuff，\"saidFrancisArdry，\"Iwasafool；andindeedIcannotdenythatIhavebeenone：no，there’snodenyingthatIhavebeenafool。Whatdoyouthink？thatfalseAnnettehascruellyabandonedme。\"
\"Well，\"saidI，\"perhapsyouhaveyourselftothankforherhavingdoneso；didyounevertreatherwithcoldness，andrepayhermarksofaffectionateinterestwithstrangefitsofeccentrichumour？\"
\"Lord！howlittleyouknowofwomen，\"saidFrancisArdry；
\"hadIdoneasyousuppose，Ishouldprobablyhavepossessedheratthepresentmoment。Itreatedherinamannerdiametricallyoppositetothat。Iloadedherwithpresents，wasalwaysmostassiduoustoher，alwaysatherfeet，asI
maysay，yetsheneverthelessabandonedme—andforwhom？I
amalmostashamedtosay—forafiddler。\"
Itookaglassofwine，FrancisArdryfollowedmyexample，andthenproceededtodetailtomethetreatmentwhichhehadexperiencedfromAnnette，andfromwhathesaid，itappearedthatherconducttohimhadbeeninthehighestdegreereprehensible；notwithstandinghehadindulgedherineverything，shewasneverciviltohim，butloadedhimcontinuallywithtauntsandinsults，andhadfinally，onhisbeingunabletosupplyherwithasumofmoneywhichshehaddemanded，decampedfromthelodgingswhichhehadtakenforher，carryingwithherallthepresentswhichatvarioustimeshehadbestoweduponher，andhadputherselfundertheprotectionofagentlemanwhoplayedthebassoonattheItalianOpera，atwhichplaceitappearedthathersisterhadlatelybeenengagedasadanseuse。MyfriendinformedmethatatfirsthehadexperiencedgreatagonyattheingratitudeofAnnette，butatlasthadmadeuphismindtoforgether，and，inordermoreeffectuallytodoso，hadleftLondonwiththeintentionofwitnessingafight，whichwasshortlycomingoffatatownintheseparts，betweensomedogsandalion；whichcombat，heinformedme，hadforsometimepastbeenlookedforwardtowithintenseeagernessbythegentlemenofthesportingworld。
Icommendedhimforhisresolution，atthesametimeadvisinghimnottogiveuphismindentirelytodog—fighting，ashehadformerlydone，but，whenthepresentcombatshouldbeover，toreturntohisrhetoricalstudies，andabovealltomarrysomerichandhandsomeladyonthefirstopportunity，as，withhispersonandexpectations，hehadonlytosueforthehandofthedaughterofamarquistobesuccessful，tellinghim，withasigh，thatallwomenwerenotAnnettes，andthat，uponthewhole，therewasnothinglikethem。Towhichadviceheanswered，thatheintendedtoreturntorhetoricassoonasthelionfightshouldbeover，butthatheneverintendedtomarry，havinghadenoughofwomen；
addingthathewasgladhehadnosister，as，withthefeelingswhichheentertainedwithrespecttohersex，heshouldbeunabletotreatherwithcommonaffection，andconcludedbyrepeatingaproverbwhichhehadlearntfromanArabwhomhehadmetatVenice，totheeffect，that，\"onewhohasbeenstungbyasnake，shiversatthesightofasting。\"
Afteralittlemoreconversation，westrolledtothestable，wheremyhorsewasstanding；myfriend，whowasaconnoisseurinhorseflesh，surveyedtheanimalwithattention，andafterinquiringwhereandhowIhadobtainedhim，askedwhatI
intendedtodowithhim；onmytellinghimthatIwasundetermined，andthatIwasafraidthehorsewaslikelytoproveaburdentome，hesaid，\"Itisanobleanimal，andifyoumindwhatyouareabout，youmaymakeasmallfortunebyhim。Idonotwantsuchananimalmyself，nordoIknowanyonewhodoes；butagreathorse—fairwillbeheldshortlyataplacewhere，itistrue，Ihaveneverbeen，butofwhichI
haveheardagreatdealfrommyacquaintances，whereitissaidafirst—ratehorseisalwayssuretofetchitsvalue；
thatplaceisHorncastle，inLincolnshire，youshouldtakehimthither。\"
FrancisArdryandmyselfdinedtogether，andafterdinnerpartookofabottleofthebestportwhichtheinnafforded。
Afterafewglasses，wehadagreatdealofconversation；I
againbroughtthesubjectofmarriageandlove，divinelove，uponthecarpet，butFrancisalmostimmediatelybeggedmetodropit；andonmyhavingthedelicacytocomply，herevertedtodog—fighting，onwhichhetalkedwellandlearnedly；
amongstotherthings，hesaiditwasaprincelysportofgreatantiquity，andquotedfromQuintusCurtiustoprovethattheprincesofIndiamusthavebeenofthefancy，theyhaving，accordingtothatauthor，treatedAlexandertoafightbetweencertaindogsandalion。Becoming，notwithstandingmyfriend’seloquenceandlearning，somewhattiredofthesubject，IbegantotalkaboutAlexander。
FrancisArdrysaidhewasoneofthetwogreatmenwhomtheworldhasproduced，theotherbeingNapoleon；IrepliedthatIbelievedTamerlanewasagreatermanthaneither；butFrancisArdryknewnothingofTamerlane，savewhathehadgatheredfromtheplayofTimourtheTartar。\"No，\"saidhe，\"AlexanderandNapoleonarethegreatmenoftheworld，theirnamesareknowneverywhere。Alexanderhasbeendeadupwardsoftwothousandyears，buttheveryEnglishbumpkinssometimeschristentheirboysbythenameofAlexander—cantherebeagreaterevidenceofhisgreatness？AsforNapoleon，therearesomepartsofIndiainwhichhisbustisworshipped。\"Wishingtomakeupatriumvirate，ImentionedthenameofWellington，towhichFrancisArdrymerelysaid，\"bah！\"andresumedthesubjectofdog—fighting。
FrancisArdryremainedattheinnduringthatdayandthenext，andthendepartedtothedogandlionfight；Ineversawhimafterwards，andmerelyheardofhimonceafteralapseofsomeyears，andwhatIthenheardwasnotexactlywhatIcouldhavewishedtohear。Hedidnotmakemuchoftheadvantageswhichhepossessed，apity，forhowgreatwerethoseadvantages—person，intellect，eloquence，connection，riches！yet，withalltheseadvantages，onethinghighlyneedfulseemstohavebeenwantinginFrancis。Adesire，acraving，toperformsomethinggreatandgood。Oh！whatavastdealmaybedonewithintellect，courage，riches，accompaniedbythedesireof，doingsomethinggreatandgood！
Why，apersonmaycarrytheblessingsofcivilizationandreligiontobarbarous，yetatthesametimebeautifulandromanticlands；andwhatatriumphthereisforhimwhodoesso！whatacrownofglory！offargreatervaluethanthosesurroundingthebrowsofyourmereconquerors。Yetwhohasdonesointhesetimes？Notmany；notthree，nottwo，somethingseemstohavebeenalwayswanting；thereis，however，oneinstance，inwhichthevariousrequisiteshavebeenunited，andthecrown，themostdesirableintheworld—
atleastwhichIconsidertobethemostdesirable—
achieved，andonlyone，thatofBrookeofBorneo。
CHAPTERXXVIII
Mr。PlatitudeandtheManinBlack—ThePostillion’sAdventures—TheLoneHouse—AGoodlyAssemblage。
ITneverrains，butitpours。Iwasdestinedtoseeatthisinnmoreacquaintancesthanone。OnthedayofFrancisArdry’sdeparture，shortlyafterhehadtakenleaveofme，asIwasstandinginthecorn—chamber，atakindofwriting—
tableordesk，fastenedtothewall，withabookbeforeme，inwhichIwasmakingoutanaccountofthecornandhaylatelyreceivedanddistributed，myfriendthepostillioncamerunninginoutofbreath。\"Heretheybothare，\"hegaspedout；\"praydocomeandlookatthem。\"
\"Whomdoyoumean？\"saidI。
\"Why，thatred—hairedJackPriest，andthatidioticparson，Platitude；theyhavejustbeensetdownbyoneofthecoaches，andwantapostchaisetogoacrossthecountryin；
andwhatdoyouthink？Iamtohavethedrivingofthem。I
havenotimetolose，forImustgetmyselfready；sodocomeandlookatthem。\"
Ihastenedintotheyardoftheinn；twoorthreeofthehelpersofourestablishmentwereemployedindrawingforwardapostchaiseoutofthechaise—house，whichoccupiedonesideoftheyard，andwhichwasspaciousenoughtocontainnearlytwentyofthesevehicles，thoughitwasneverfull，severalofthembeingalwaysoutupontheroads，asthedemanduponusforpostchaisesacrossthecountrywasverygreat。\"Theretheyare，\"saidthepostillion，softly，noddingtowardstwoindividuals，inoneofwhomIrecognizedthemaninblack，andintheotherMr。Platitude；\"theretheyare；haveagoodlookatthem，whileIgoandgetready。\"ThemaninblackandMr。Platitudewerewalkingupanddowntheyard，Mr。
Platitudewasdoinghisbesttomakehimselfappearridiculous，talkingveryloudlyinexceedinglybadItalian，evidentlyforthepurposeofattractingthenoticeofthebystanders，inwhichhesucceeded，allthestable—boysandhangers—onabouttheyard，attractedbyhisvociferation，grinningathisridiculousfigureashelimpedupanddown。
Themaninblacksaidlittleornothing，butfromtheglanceswhichhecastsidewaysappearedtobethoroughlyashamedofhiscompanion；theworthycouplepresentlyarrivedclosetowhereIwasstanding，andthemaninblack，whowasnearesttome，perceivingme，stoodstillasifhesitating，butrecoveringhimselfinamoment，hemovedonwithouttakinganyfarthernotice；Mr。Platitudeexclaimedastheypassedinbrokenlingo，\"Ihopeweshallfindtheholydoctorsallassembled，\"andastheyreturned，\"Imakenodoubtthattheywillallberejoicedtoseeme。\"Notwishingtobestandinganidlegazer，Iwenttothechaiseandassistedinattachingthehorses，whichhadnowbeenbroughtout，tothepole。Thepostillionpresentlyarrived，andfindingallreadytookthereinsandmountedthebox，whilstIverypolitelyopenedthedoorforthetwotravellers；Mr。Platitudegotinfirst，and，withouttakinganynoticeofme，seatedhimselfonthefartherside。Ingotthemaninblack，andseatedhimselfnearesttome。\"Allisright，\"saidI，asIshutthedoor，whereuponthepostillioncrackedhiswhip，andthechaisedroveoutoftheyard。JustasIshutthedoor，however，andjustasMr。Platitudehadrecommencedtalkinginjergo，atthetopofhisvoice，themaninblackturnedhisfacepartlytowardsme，andgavemeawinkwithhislefteye。
Ididnotseemyfriendthepostilliontillthenextmorning，whenhegavemeanaccountoftheadventureshehadmetwithonhisexpedition。ItappearedthathehaddriventhemaninblackandtheReverendPlatitudeacrossthecountrybyroadsandlaneswhichhehadsomedifficultyinthreading。Atlength，whenhehadreachedapartofthecountrywherehehadneverbeenbefore，themaninblackpointedouttohimahousenearthecornerofawood，towhichheinformedhimtheywerebound。Thepostillionsaiditwasastrange—
lookinghouse，withawallroundit；and，uponthewhole，boresomethingofthelookofamadhouse。Therewasalreadyapostchaiseatthegate，fromwhichthreeindividualshadalighted—oneofthemthepostillionsaidwasamean—lookingscoundrel，witharegularpetty—larcenyexpressioninhiscountenance。Hewasdressedverymuchlikethemaninblack，andthepostillionsaidthathecouldalmosthavetakenhisBibleoaththattheywerebothofthesameprofession。Theothertwohesaidwereparsons，hecouldswearthat，thoughhehadneverseenthembefore；therecouldbenomistakeaboutthem。ChurchofEnglandparsonsthepostillionsworetheywere，withtheirblackcoats，whitecravats，andairs，inwhichclumsinessandconceitweremostfunnilyblended—
ChurchofEnglandparsonsofthePlatitudedescription，whohadbeeninItaly，andseenthePope，andkissedhistoe，andpickedupalittlebrokenItalian，andcomehomegreaterfoolsthantheywentforth。ItappearedthattheywereallacquaintancesofMr。Platitude，forwhenthepostillionhadalightedandletMr。Platitudeandhiscompanionoutofthechaise，Mr。Platitudeshookthewholethreebythehand，conversedwithhistwobrothersinalittlebrokenjergo，andaddressedthepetty—larcenylookingindividualbythetitleofReverendDoctor。Inthemidstofthesegreetings，however，thepostillionsaidthemaninblackcameuptohim，andproceededtosettlewithhimforthechaise；hehadshakenhandswithnobody，andhadmerelynoddedtotheothers；\"andnow，\"saidthepostillion，\"heevidentlywishedtogetridofme，fearing，probably，thatIshouldseetoomuchofthenonsensethatwasgoingon。Itwaswhilstsettlingwithmethatheseemedtorecognizemeforthefirsttime，forhestaredhardatme，andatlastaskedwhetherI
hadnotbeeninItaly；towhichquestion，withanodandalaugh，IrepliedthatIhad。IwasthengoingtoaskhimaboutthehealthoftheimageofHolyMary，andtosaythatI
hopedithadrecoveredfromitshorsewhipping；butheinterruptedme，paidmethemoneyforthefare，andgavemeacrownformyself，sayinghewouldnotdetainmeanylonger。
Isay，partner，Iamapoorpostillion，butwhenhegavemethecrownIhadagoodmindtoflingitinhisface。I
reflected，however，thatitwasnotmeregift—money，butcoinwhichIhadearned，andhardlytoo，soIputitinmypocket，andIbethoughtme，moreover，that，knaveasIknewhimtobe，hehadalwaystreatedmewithcivility；soInoddedtohim，andhesaidsomethingwhich，perhaps，hemeantforLatin，butwhichsoundedverymuchlike’vails，’andbywhichhedoubtlessalludedtothemoneywhichhehadgivenme。Hethenwentintothehousewiththerest，thecoachdroveawaywhichhadbroughttheothers，andIwasabouttogetontheboxandfollow；observing，however，twomorechaisesdrivingup，IthoughtIwouldbeinnohurry，soIjustledmyhorsesandchaisealittleoutoftheway，andpretendingtobeoccupiedabouttheharness，Ikeptatolerablysharplook—outatthenewarrivals。Well，partner，thenextvehiclethatdroveupwasagentleman’scarriagewhichIknewverywell，aswellasthosewithinit，whowereafatherandson，thefatheragoodkindoldgentleman，andajusticeofthepeace，thereforenotverywise，asyoumaysuppose；thesonapuppywhohasbeenabroad，wherehecontrivedtoforgethisownlanguage，thoughonlyninemonthsabsent，andnowrulestheroastoverhisfatherandmother，whoseonlychildheis，andbywhomheisthoughtwondrousclever。Sothisforeigneeringchapbringshispooroldfathertothisout—of—the—wayhousetomeetthesePlatitudesandpetty—larcenyvillains，andperhapswouldhavebroughthismothertoo，only，simplething，bygoodfortuneshehappenstobelaidupwiththerheumatic。Well，thefatherandson，Ibegpardon，Imeanthesonandfather，gotdownandwentin，andthenaftertheircarriagewasgone，thechaisebehinddroveup，inwhichwasahugefatfellow，weighingtwentystoneatleast，butwithsomethingofaforeignlook，andwithhim—whodoyouthink？Why，arascallyUnitarianminister，thatis，afellowwhohadbeensuchaminister，butwho，someyearsagoleavinghisownpeople，whohadbredhimupandsenthimtotheircollegeatYork，wentovertotheHighChurch，andisnow，I
suppose，goingovertosomeotherchurch，forhewastalking，ashegotdown，wondrousfastinLatin，orwhatsoundedsomethinglikeLatin，tothefatfellow，whoappearedtotakethingswonderfullyeasy，andmerelygruntedtothedogLatinwhichthescoundrelhadlearntattheexpenseofthepoorUnitariansatYork。Sotheywentintothehouse，andpresentlyarrivedanotherchaise，butereIcouldmakeanyfurtherobservations，theporteroftheout—of—the—wayhousecameuptome，askingwhatIwasstoppingtherefor？biddingmegoaway，andnotpryintootherpeople’sbusiness。
’Prettybusiness，’saidItohim，’thatisbeingtransactedinaplacelikethis，’andthenIwasgoingtosaysomethinguncivil，buthewenttoattendtothenewcorners，andItookmyselfawayonmyownbusinessashebademe，not，however，beforeobservingthatthesetwolastwereacoupleofblackcoats。\"
Thepostillionthenproceededtorelatehowhemadethebestofhiswaytoasmallpublic—house，aboutamileoff，wherehehadintendedtobait，andhowhemetonthewayalandauandpair，belongingtoaScotchcoxcombwhomhehadknowninLondon，aboutwhomherelatedsomecuriousparticulars，andthencontinued：\"Well，afterIhadpassedhimandhisturn—