\"Sittingintheswale；andlisteningtotheswindleoftheflail，asitsoundsdub—a—dubonthecorn，fromtheneighbouringbarn。\"
InrequitalforwhichItreatedthemwithasong，notofRomanvile，butthesongof\"SivoryandthehorseGrayman。\"I
remainedwiththemtillitwasdark，having，aftersunset，enteredintodeepdiscoursewithacelebratedratcatcher，whocommunicatedtomethesecretsofhistrade，saying，amongstotherthings，\"Whenyouseetheratspouringoutoftheirholes，andrunningupmyhandsandarms，it’snotaftermetheycomes，butaftertheoilsIcarriesaboutmetheycomes；\"andwhosubsequentlyspokeinthemostenthusiasticmannerofhistrade，sayingthatitwasthebesttradeintheworld，andmostdiverting，andthatitwaslikelytolastforever；forwhereasallotherkindsofverminwerefastdisappearingfromEngland，ratswereeverydaybecomingmoreabundant。Ihadquittedthisgoodcompany，andhavingmountedmyhorse，wasmakingmywaytowardsatownataboutsixmiles’distance，ataswingingtrot，mythoughtsdeeplyengagedonwhatIhadgatheredfromtheratcatcher，whenallonasuddenalightglareduponthehorse’sface，whopurledroundingreatterror，andflungmeoutofthesaddle，asfromasling，orwithasmuchviolenceasthehorseGrayman，intheballad，flingsSivordtheSnareswayne。Ifellupontheground—feltakindofcrashingaboutmyneck—andforthwithbecamesenseless。
CHAPTERXXXI
ANovelSituation—TheElderlyIndividual—TheSurgeon—A
KindOffer—ChimericalIdeas—StrangeDream。
HOWlongIremainedsenselessIcannotsay，foraconsiderabletime，Ibelieve；atlength，openingmyeyes，I
foundmyselflyingonabedinamiddle—sizedchamber，lightedbyacandle，whichstoodonatable—anelderlymanstoodnearme，andayetmoreelderlyfemalewasholdingaphialofverypungentsaltstomyolfactoryorgan。I
attemptedtomove，butfeltverystiff—myrightarmappearednearlyparalysed，andtherewasastrangedullsensationinmyhead。\"Youhadbetterremainstill，youngman，\"saidtheelderlyindividual，\"thesurgeonwillbeherepresently；Ihavesentamessageforhimtotheneighbouringvillage。\"\"WhereamI？\"saidI，\"andwhathashappened？\"
\"Youareinmyhouse，\"saidtheoldman，\"andyouhavebeenflungfromahorse。IamsorrytosaythatIwasthecause。
AsIwasdrivinghome，thelightsinmygigfrightenedtheanimal。\"\"Whereisthehorse？\"saidI。\"Below，inmystable，\"saidtheelderlyindividual。\"Isawyoufall，butknowingthatonaccountofmyageIcouldbeoflittleusetoyou，Iinstantlyhurriedhome，theaccidentdidnotoccurmorethanafurlongoff，andprocuringtheassistanceofmylad，andtwoorthreeneighbouringcottagers，Ireturnedtothespotwhereyouwerelyingsenseless。Weraisedyouup，andbroughtyouhere。Myladthenwentinquestofthehorse，whohadrunawayaswedrewnigh。Whenwesawhimfirsthewasstandingnearyou；hecaughthimwithsomedifficulty，andbroughthimhome。Whatareyouabout？\"saidtheoldman，asIstrovetogetoffthebed。\"Iwanttoseethehorse，\"saidI。\"Ientreatyoutobestill，\"saidtheoldman；\"thehorseissafe，Iassureyou。\"\"Iamthinkingabouthisknees，\"saidI。\"Insteadofthinkingaboutyourhorse’sknees，\"saidtheoldman，\"bethankfulthatyouhavenotbrokeyourownneck。\"\"Youdonottalkwisely，\"saidI；
\"whenaman’sneckisbroke，heisprovidedfor；butwhenhishorse’skneesarebroke，heisalostjockey，thatis，ifhehasnothingbuthishorsetodependupon。AprettyfigureI
shouldcutatHorncastle，mountedonahorseblood—rawattheknees。\"\"Oh，youaregoingtoHorncastle，\"saidtheoldman，seriously，\"thenIcansympathizewithyouinyouranxietyaboutyourhorse，beingaLincolnshireman，andthesonofonewhobredhorses。Iwillmyselfgodownintothestable，andexamineintotheconditionofyourhorse，soprayremainquiettillIreturn；itwouldcertainlybeaterriblethingtoappearatHorncastleonabroken—kneedhorse。\"
Helefttheroomandreturnedinabouttenminutes，followedbyanotherperson。\"Yourhorseissafe，\"saidhe，\"andhiskneesareunblemished；notahairruffled。Heisafineanimal，andwilldocredittoHorncastle；buthereisthesurgeoncometoexamineintoyourowncondition。\"Thesurgeonwasamanaboutthirty—five，thin，andrathertall；
hisfacewaslongandpale，andhishair，whichwaslight，wascarefullycombedbackasmuchaspossiblefromhisforehead。Hewasdressedveryneatly，andspokeinaveryprecisetone。\"Allowmetofeelyourpulse，friend？\"saidhe，takingmebytherightwrist。Iutteredacry，foratthemotionwhichhecausedathrillofagonydartedthroughmyarm。\"Ihopeyourarmisnotbroke，myfriend，\"saidthesurgeon，\"allowmetosee；firstofall，wemustdivestyouofthiscumbrousfrock。\"
Thefrockwasremovedwithsomedifficulty，andthentheuppervestmentsofmyframe，withmoredifficultystill。Thesurgeonfeltmyarm，movingitupanddown，causingmeunspeakablepain。\"Thereisnofracture，\"saidhe，atlast，\"butacontusion—aviolentcontusion。IamtoldyouweregoingtoHorncastle；Iamafraidyouwillbehardlyabletorideyourhorsethitherintimetodisposeofhim；however，weshallsee—yourarmmustbebandaged，friend；afterwhichIshallbleedyou，andadministeracomposingdraught。\"
Tobeshort，thesurgeondidasheproposed，andwhenhehadadministeredthecomposingdraught，hesaid，\"Beofgoodcheer；IshouldnotbesurprisedifyouareyetintimeforHorncastle。\"Hethendepartedwiththemasterofthehouse，andthewoman，leavingmetomyrepose。Isoonbegantofeeldrowsy，andwasjustcomposingmyselftoslumber，lyingonmyback，asthesurgeonhadadvisedme，whenIheardstepsascendingthestairs，andinamomentmorethesurgeonenteredagain，followedbythemasterofthehouse。\"IhopeIdon’tdisturbyou，\"saidtheformer；\"myreasonforreturningistorelieveyourmindfromanyanxietywithrespecttoyourhorse。Iambynomeanssurethatyouwillbeable，owingtoyouraccident，toreachHorncastleintime：
toquietyou，however，Iwillbuyyourhorseforanyreasonablesum。Ihavebeendowntothestable，andapproveofhisfigure。Whatdoyouaskforhim？\"\"Thisisastrangetimeofnight，\"saidI，\"tocometomeaboutpurchasingmyhorse，andIamhardlyinafittingsituationtobeappliedtoaboutsuchamatter。Whatdoyouwanthimfor？\"\"Formyownuse，\"saidthesurgeon；\"Iamaprofessionalman，andamobligedtobecontinuallydrivingabout；Icoveratleastonehundredandfiftymileseveryweek。\"\"Hewillneveransweryourpurpose，\"saidI，\"heisnotadrivinghorse，andwasneverbetweenshaftsinhislife；heisforriding，moreespeciallyfortrotting，atwhichhehasfewequals。\"\"Itmattersnottomewhetherheisforridingordriving，\"saidthesurgeon，\"sometimesIride，sometimesdrive；so，ifwecancometoterms，Iwillbuyhim，thoughrememberitischieflytoremoveanyanxietyfromyourmindabouthim。\"
\"Thisisnotimeforbargaining，\"saidI，\"ifyouwishtohavethehorseforahundredguineas，youmay；ifnot—\"\"A
hundredguineas！\"saidthesurgeon，\"mygoodfriend，youmustsurelybelight—headed；allowmetofeelyourpulse，\"andheattemptedtofeelmyleftwrist。\"Iamnotlight—headed，\"
saidI，\"andIrequirenoonetofeelmypulse；butIshouldbelight—headedifIweretosellmyhorseforlessthanI
havedemanded；butIhaveacuriositytoknowwhatyouwouldbewillingtooffer。\"\"Thirtypounds，\"saidthesurgeon，\"isallIcanaffordtogive；andthatisagreatdealforacountrysurgeontoofferforahorse。\"\"Thirtypounds！\"saidI，\"why，hecostmenearlydoublethatsum。Totellyouthetruth，Iamafraidthatyouwanttotakeadvantageofmysituation。\"\"Notintheleast，friend，\"saidthesurgeon，\"notintheleast；Ionlywishedtosetyourmindatrestaboutyourhorse；butasyouthinkheisworthmorethanI
canaffordtooffer，takehimtoHorncastlebyallmeans；I
willdomybesttocureyouintime。Goodnight，Iwillseeyouagainonthemorrow。\"Thereuponheoncemoredepartedwiththemasterofthehouse。\"Asharpone，\"Iheardhimsay，withalaugh，asthedoorcloseduponhim。
Lefttomyself，Iagainessayedtocomposemyselftorest，butforsometimeinvain。Ihadbeenterriblyshakenbymyfall，andhadsubsequently，owingtotheincisionofthesurgeon’slancet，beendeprivedofmuchofthevitalfluid；
itiswhenthebodyisinsuchastatethatthemeresttriflesaffectandagitatethemind；nowonder，then，thatthereturnofthesurgeonandthemasterofthehouseforthepurposeofinquiringwhetherIwouldsellmyhorse，struckmeasbeinghighlyextraordinary，consideringthehourofthenight，andthesituationinwhichtheyknewmetobe。Whatcouldtheymeanbysuchconduct—didtheywishtocheatmeoftheanimal？\"Well，well，\"saidI，\"iftheydid，whatmatters，theyfoundtheirmatch；yes，yes，\"saidI，\"butIamintheirpower，perhaps\"—butIinstantlydismissedtheapprehensionwhichcameintomymind，withapooh，nonsense！
Inalittletime，however，afarmorefoolishandchimericalideabegantodisturbme—theideaofbeingflungfrommyhorse；wasInotdisgracedforeverasahorsemanbybeingflungfrommyhorse？Assuredly，Ithought；andtheideaofbeingdisgracedasahorseman，operatingonmynervoussystem，causedmeveryacutemisery。\"Afterall，\"saidItomyself，\"itwasperhapsthecontemptibleopinionwhichthesurgeonmusthaveformedofmyequestrianpowers，whichinducedhimtooffertotakemyhorseoffmyhands；heperhapsthoughtIwasunabletomanageahorse，andthereforeinpityreturnedinthedeadofnighttooffertopurchasetheanimalwhichhadflungme；\"andthenthethoughtthatthesurgeonhadconceivedacontemptibleopinionofmyequestrianpowers，causedmetheacutestmisery，andcontinuedtormentingmeuntilsomeotheridea（Ihaveforgotwhatitwas，butdoubtlessequallyfoolish）tookpossessionofmymind。Atlength，broughtonbytheagitationofmyspirits，therecameovermethesamefeelingofhorrorthatIhadexperiencedofoldwhenIwasaboy，andlikewiseoflatewithinthedingle；itwas，however，notsoviolentasithadbeenonthoseoccasions，andIstruggledmanfullyagainstit，untilbydegreesitpassedaway，andthenIfellasleep；andinmysleepIhadanuglydream。IdreamtthatIhaddiedoftheinjuriesIhadreceivedfrommyfall，andthatnosoonerhadmysouldepartedfrommybodythanitenteredthatofaquadruped，evenmyownhorseinthestable—inaword，I
was，toallintentsandpurposes，myownsteed；andasI
stoodinthestablechewinghay（andIrememberthatthehaywasexceedinglytough），thedooropened，andthesurgeonwhohadattendedmecamein。\"Mygoodanimal，\"saidhe，\"asyourlatemasterhasscarcelyleftenoughtopayfortheexpensesofhisfuneral，andnothingtoremuneratemeformytrouble，Ishallmakeboldtotakepossessionofyou。Ifyourpacesaregood，Ishallkeepyouformyownriding；ifnot，IshalltakeyoutoHorncastle，youroriginaldestination。\"Hethenbridledandsaddledme，and，leadingmeout，mounted，andthentrottedmeupanddownbeforethehouse，atthedoorofwhichtheoldman，whonowappearedtobedressedinregularjockeyfashion，wasstanding。\"Ilikehispaceswell，\"saidthesurgeon；\"IthinkIshalltakehimformyownuse。\"\"AndwhatamItohaveforallthetroublehismastercausedme？\"
saidmylateentertainer，onwhosecountenanceInowobserved，forthefirsttime，adiabolicalsquint。\"Theconsciousnessofhavingdoneyourdutytoafellow—creatureinsuccouringhiminatimeofdistress，mustbeyourreward，\"saidthesurgeon。\"Prettygammon，truly，\"saidmylateentertainer；\"whatwouldyousayifIweretotalkinthatwaytoyou？Come，unlessyouchoosetobehavejonnock，Ishalltakethebridleandleadthehorsebackintothestable。\"\"Well，\"saidthesurgeon，\"weareoldfriends，andIdon’twishtodisputewithyou，soI’lltellyouwhatI
willdo；IwillridetheanimaltoHorncastle，andwewillsharewhathefetcheslikebrothers。\"\"Good，\"saidtheoldman，\"butifyousaythatyouhavesoldhimforlessthanahundred，Ishan’tconsideryoujonnock；rememberwhattheyoungfellowsaid—thatyoungfellow—\"Iheardnomore，forthenextmomentIfoundmyselfonabroadroadleading，asIsupposed，inthedirectionofHorncastle，thesurgeonstillinthesaddle，andmylegsmovingatarapidtrot。
\"Geton，\"saidthesurgeon，jerkingmymouthwiththebit；
whereupon，fullofrage，Iinstantlysetoffatafullgallop，determined，ifpossible，todashmyridertotheearth。Thesurgeon，however，kepthisseat，and，sofarfromattemptingtoabatemyspeed，urgedmeontogreatereffortswithastoutstick，whichmethoughtheheldinhishand。InvaindidIrearandkick，attemptingtogetridofmyfoe；
butthesurgeonremainedassaddle—fastasevertheMaugrabinsorcererintheArabiantalewhattimeherodetheyoungprincetransformedintoasteedtohisenchantedpalaceinthewilderness。Atlast，asIwasstillmadlydashingon，pantingandblowing，andhadalmostgivenupallhope，Isawatadistancebeforemeaheapofstonesbythesideoftheroad，probablyplacedthereforthepurposeofrepairingit；
athoughtappearedtostrikeme—Iwillshyatthosestones，and，ifIcan’tgetridofhimso，resignmyselftomyfate。
SoIincreasedmyspeed，tillarrivingwithinabouttenyardsoftheheap，Imadeadesperatestart，turninghalfroundwithnearlythevelocityofamill—stone。Oh，thejoyI
experiencedwhenIfeltmyenemycantedovermyneck，andsawhimlyingsenselessintheroad。\"Ihaveyounowinmypower，\"Isaid，orratherneighed，as，goinguptomyprostratefoe，Istoodoverhim。\"SupposeIweretorearnow，andletmyforefeetfalluponyou，whatwouldyourlifebeworth？thatis，supposingyouarenotkilledalready；butliethere，Iwilldoyounofurtherharm，buttrottoHorncastlewithoutarider，andwhenthere—\"andwithoutfurtherreflectionoffItrottedinthedirectionofHorncastle，buthadnotgonefarbeforemybridle，fallingfrommyneck，gotentangledwithmyoffforefoot。Ifeltmyselffalling，athrillofagonyshotthroughme—mykneeswouldbebroken，andwhatshouldIdoatHorncastlewithapairofbrokenknees？Istruggled，butIcouldnotdisengagemyoffforefoot，anddownwardIfell，butbeforeIhadreachedthegroundIawoke，andfoundmyselfhalfoutofbed，mybandagedarminconsiderablepain，andmylefthandjusttouchingthefloor。
WithsomedifficultyIreadjustedmyselfinbed。Itwasnowearlymorning，andthefirstraysofthesunwerebeginningtopenetratethewhitecurtainsofawindowonmyleft，whichprobablylookedintothegarden，asIcaughtaglimpseortwooftheleavesoftreesthroughasmalluncoveredpartattheside。ForsometimeIfeltuneasyandanxious，myspiritsbeinginastrangeflutteringstate。Atlastmyeyesfelluponasmallrowoftea—cupsseeminglyofchina，whichstoodonamantelpieceexactlyfrontingthebottomofthebed。Thesightoftheseobjects，Iknownotwhy，soothedandpacifiedme；Ikeptmyeyesfixeduponthem，asIlayonmybackonthebed，withmyheaduponthepillow，tillatlastIfellintoacalmandrefreshingsleep。
CHAPTERXXXII
TheMorningafteraFall—TheTeapot—UnpretendingHospitality—TheChineseStudent。
ITmightbeabouteighto’clockinthemorningwhenIwasawakenedbytheentranceoftheoldman。\"Howhaveyourested？\"saidhe，cominguptothebedside，andlookingmeintheface。\"Well，\"saidI，\"andIfeelmuchbetter，butIamstillverysore。\"Isurveyedhimnowforthefirsttimewithattention。Hewasdressedinasober—colouredsuit，andwasapparentlybetweensixtyandseventy。Instaturehewasratherabovethemiddleheight，butwithaslightstoop；hisfeatureswereplacid，andexpressiveofmuchbenevolence，but，asitappearedtome，withratheramelancholycast—asIgazeduponthem，IfeltashamedthatIshouldeverhaveconceivedinmybrainavisionlikethatoftheprecedingnight，inwhichheappearedinsodisadvantageousalight。
Atlengthhesaid，\"Itisnowtimeforyoutotakesomerefreshment。Ihearmyoldservantcomingupwithyourbreakfast。\"Inamomenttheelderlyfemaleenteredwithatray，onwhichwassomebreadandbutter，ateapotandcup。
Thecupwasofcommonblueearthenware，butthepotwasofchina，curiouslyfashioned，andseeminglyofgreatantiquity。
Theoldmanpouredmeoutacupfuloftea，andthen，withtheassistanceofthewoman，raisedmehigher，andproppedmeupwiththepillows。Iateanddrank；whenthepotwasemptiedofitsliquid（itdidnotcontainmuch），Iraiseditupwithmylefthandtoinspectit。Thesideswerecoveredwithcuriouscharacters，seeminglyhieroglyphics。Aftersurveyingthemforsometime，Ireplacedituponthetray。\"Youseemfondofchina，\"saidI，totheoldman，aftertheservanthadretiredwiththebreakfastthings，andIhadreturnedtomyformerposture；\"youhavechinaonthemantelpiece，andthatwasaremarkableteapotoutofwhichIhavejustbeendrinking。\"
Theoldmanfixedhiseyesintentlyonme，andmethoughttheexpressionofhiscountenancebecameyetmoremelancholy。
\"Yes，\"saidhe，atlast，\"Iamfondofchina—Ihavereasontobefondofchina—butforchinaIshould—\"andherehesighedagain。
\"Youvalueitforthequaintnessandsingularityofitsform，\"saidI；\"itappearstobelessadaptedforrealusethanourownpottery。\"
\"Icarelittleaboutitsform，\"saidtheoldman；\"Icareforitsimplyonaccountof—however，whytalktoyouonthesubjectwhichcanhavenopossibleinteresttoyou？Iexpectthesurgeonherepresently。\"
\"Idonotlikethatsurgeonatall，\"saidI；\"howstrangelyhebehavedlastnight，comingback，whenIwasjustfallingasleep，toaskmeifIwouldsellmyhorse。\"
Theoldmansmiled。\"Hehasbutonefailing，\"saidhe，\"anitchforhorse—dealing；butforthathemightbeamuchrichermanthanheis；heiscontinuallybuyingandexchanginghorses，andgenerallyfindshimselfaloserbyhisbargains：butheisaworthycreature，andskilfulinhisprofession—itiswellforyouthatyouareunderhiscare。\"
Theoldmanthenleftme，andinaboutanhourreturnedwiththesurgeon，whoexaminedmeandreportedfavourablyastomycase。Hespoketomewithkindnessandfeeling，anddidnotintroducethesubjectofthehorse。IaskedhimwhetherhethoughtIshouldbeintimeforthefair。\"Isawsomepeoplemakingtheirwaythitherto—day，\"saidhe；\"thefairlaststhreeweeks，andithasjustcommenced。Yes，IthinkImaypromiseyouthatyouwillbeintimefortheveryheatofit。
Inafewdaysyouwillbeabletomountyoursaddlewithyourarminasling，butyoumustbynomeansappearwithyourarminaslingatHorncastle，aspeoplewouldthinkthatyourhorsehadflungyou，andthatyouwantedtodisposeofhimbecausehewasaviciousbrute。Youmust，byallmeans，droptheslingbeforeyougettoHorncastle。\"
ForthreedaysIkeptmyapartmentbytheadviceofthesurgeon。IpassedmytimeasIbestcould。Stretchedonmybed，Ieitherabandonedmyselftoreflection，orlistenedtothevoicesofthebirdsintheneighbouringgarden。
Sometimes，asIlayawakeatnight，Iwouldendeavourtocatchthetickofaclock，whichmethoughtsoundedfromsomedistantpartofthehouse。
Theoldmanvisitedmetwiceorthriceeverydaytoinquireintomystate。Hiswordswerefewontheseoccasions，andhedidnotstaylong。Yethisvoiceandhiswordswerekind。
Whatsurprisedmemostinconnectionwiththisindividualwas，thedelicacyofconductwhichheexhibitedinnotlettingawordproceedfromhislipswhichcouldtestifycuriosityrespectingwhoIwas，orwhenceIcame。Allheknewofmewas，thatIhadbeenflungfrommyhorseonmywaytoafairforthepurposeofdisposingoftheanimal；andthatIwasnowhisguest。Imightbeacommonhorse—dealerforwhatheknew，yetIwastreatedbyhimwithalltheattentionwhichIcouldhaveexpected，hadIbeenanaldermanofBoston’sheir，andknowntohimassuch。ThecountyinwhichIamnow，thoughtIatlast，mustbeeitherextraordinarilydevotedtohospitality，orthisoldhostofminemustbeanextraordinaryindividual。Ontheeveningofthefourthday，feelingtiredofmyconfinement，IputmyclothesoninthebestmannerIcould，andleftthechamber。
Descendingaflightofstairs，Ireachedakindofquadrangle，fromwhichbranchedtwoorthreepassages；oneoftheseIentered，whichhadadooratthefartherend，andoneoneachside；theonetotheleftstandingpartlyopen，I
enteredit，andfoundmyselfinamiddle—sizedroomwithalargewindow，orratherglass—door，whichlookedintoagarden，andwhichstoodopen。Therewasnothingremarkableinthisroom，exceptalargequantityofchina。Therewaschinaonthemantelpiece—chinaontwotables，andasmallbeaufet，whichstoodoppositetheglass—door，wascoveredwithchina—therewerecups，teapots，andvasesofvariousforms，andonallofthemIobservedcharacters—notateapot，notatea—cup，notavaseofwhateverformorsize，butappearedtopossesshieroglyphicsonsomepartorother。
Aftersurveyingthesearticlesforsometimewithnolittleinterest，Ipassedintothegarden，inwhichthereweresmallparterresofflowers，andtwoorthreetrees，andwhich，wherethehousedidnotabut，wasboundedbyawall；turningtotherightbyawalkbythesideofahouse，Ipassedbyadoor—probablytheoneIhadseenattheendofthepassage—andarrivedatanotherwindowsimilartothatthroughwhichIhadcome，andwhichalsostoodopen；Iwasabouttopassthroughit，whenIheardthevoiceofmyentertainerexclaiming，\"Isthatyou？praycomein。\"
Ienteredtheroom，whichseemedtobeacounterpartoftheonewhichIhadjustleft。Itwasofthesamesize，hadthesamekindoffurniture，andappearedtobeequallywellstockedwithchina；oneprominentarticleitpossessed，however，whichtheotherroomdidnotexhibit—namely，aclock，which，withitspendulummovingtick—a—tick，hungagainstthewalloppositetothedoor，thesightofwhichmademeconcludethatthesoundwhichmethoughtIhadheardinthestillnessofthenightwasnotanimaginaryone。
Thereithungonthewall，withitspendulummovingtick—a—
tick。Theoldgentlemanwasseatedinaneasychairalittlewayintotheroom，havingtheglass—dooronhisrighthand。
Onatablebeforehimlayalargeopenvolume，inwhichI
observedRomanlettersaswellascharacters。Afewinchesbeyondthebookonthetable，coveredalloverwithhieroglyphics，stoodachinavase。Theeyesoftheoldmanwerefixeduponit。
\"Sitdown，\"saidhe，motioningmewithhishandtoastoolcloseby，butwithouttakinghiseyesfromthevase。
\"Ican’tmakeitout，\"saidhe，atlast，removinghiseyesfromthevase，andleaningbackonthechair，\"Ican’tmakeitout。\"
\"IwishIcouldassistyou，\"saidI。
\"Assistme，\"saidtheoldman，lookingatmewithahalfsmile。
\"Yes，\"saidI，\"butIdon’tunderstandChinese。\"
\"Isupposenot，\"saidtheoldman，withanotherslightsmile；
\"but—but—\"
\"Prayproceed，\"saidI。
\"Iwishedtoaskyou，\"saidtheoldman，\"howyouknewthatthecharactersonyonpieceofcrockerywereChinese；or，indeed，thattherewassuchalanguage？\"
\"Iknewthecrockerywaschina，\"saidI，\"andnaturallyenoughsupposedwhatwaswrittenuponittobeChinese；asfortherebeingsuchalanguage—theEnglishhavealanguage，theFrenchhavealanguage，andwhynottheChinese？\"
\"MayIaskyouaquestion？\"
\"Asmanyasyoulike。\"
\"DoyouknowanylanguagebesidesEnglish？\"
\"Yes，\"saidI，\"Iknowalittleoftwoorthree。\"
\"MayIasktheirnames？\"
\"Whynot？\"saidI，\"IknowalittleFrench。\"
\"Anythingelse？\"
\"Yes，alittleWelsh，andalittleHaik。\"
\"WhatisHaik？\"
\"Armenian。\"
\"Iamgladtoseeyouinmyhouse，\"saidtheoldman，shakingmebythehand；\"howsingularthatonecomingasyoudidshouldknowArmenian！\"
\"Notmoresingular，\"saidI，\"thanthatonelivinginsuchaplaceasthisshouldknowChinese。Howcameyoutoacquireit？\"
Theoldmanlookedatme，andsighed。\"Ibegpardon，\"saidI，\"foraskingwhatis，perhaps，animpertinentquestion；I
havenotimitatedyourowndelicacy；youhaveneveraskedmeaquestionwithoutfirstdesiringpermission，andhereIhavebeendaysandnightsinyourhouseanintruderonyourhospitality，andyouhaveneversomuchasaskedmewhoI
am。\"
\"Inforbearingtodothat，\"saidtheoldman，\"ImerelyobeyedtheChineseprecept，’Asknoquestionsofaguest；’itiswrittenonbothsidesoftheteapotoutofwhichyouhavehadyourtea。\"
\"IwishIknewChinese，\"saidI。\"Isitadifficultlanguagetoacquire？\"
\"Ihavereasontothinkso，\"saidtheoldman。\"Ihavebeenoccupieduponitfive—and—thirtyyears，andIamstillveryimperfectlyacquaintedwithit；atleast，Ifrequentlyfinduponmycrockerysentencesthemeaningofwhichtomeisverydark，thoughitistruethesesentencesaremostlyverses，whichare，ofcourse，moredifficulttounderstandthanmereprose。\"
\"AreyourChinesestudies，\"saidI，\"confinedtocrockeryliterature？\"
\"Entirely，\"saidtheoldman；\"Ireadnothingelse。\"
\"Ihaveheard，\"saidI，\"thattheChinesehavenoletters，butthatforeverywordtheyhaveaseparatecharacter—isitso？\"
\"Foreverywordtheyhaveaparticularcharacter，\"saidtheoldman；\"though，topreventconfusion，theyhavearrangedtheirwordsundertwohundredandfourteenwhatweshouldcallradicals，butwhichtheycallkeys。Aswearrangeallourwordsinadictionaryundertwenty—fourletters，sodotheyarrangealltheirwords，orcharacters，undertwohundredandfourteenradicalsigns；thesimplestradicalsbeingthefirst，andthemorecomplexthelast。\"
\"DoestheChineseresembleanyoftheEuropeanlanguagesinwords？\"saidI。
\"Iamscarcelycompetenttoinformyou，\"saidtheoldman；
\"butIbelievenot。\"
\"Whatdoesthatcharacterrepresent？\"saidI，pointingtooneonthevase。
\"Aknife，\"saidtheoldman，\"thatcharacterisoneofthesimplestradicalsorkeys。\"
\"Andwhatisthesoundofit？\"saidI。
\"Tau，\"saidtheoldman。
\"Tau！\"saidI；\"tau！\"
\"Astrangewordforaknifeisitnot？\"saidtheoldman。
\"Tawse！\"saidI；\"tawse！\"
\"Whatistawse？\"saidtheoldman。
\"YouwereneveratschoolatEdinburgh，Isuppose？\"
\"Never，\"saidtheoldman。