1801.—Ihavejustreturnedfromavisittomylandlord—! InallEngland, ’sheaven: ! HelittleimaginedhowmyheartwarmedtowardshimwhenIbeheldhisblackeyeswithdrawsosuspiciouslyundertheirbrows, asIrodeup, andwhenhisfingersshelteredthemselves, withajealousresolution, stillfurtherinhiswaistcoat, asIannouncedmyname.
‘?’ Isaid.
Anodwastheanswer.
‘, yournewtenant, , toexpressthehopethatIhavenotinconveniencedyoubymyperseveranceinsolicitingtheoccupationofThrushcrossGrange: Iheardyesterdayyouhadhadsomethoughts—’
‘ThrushcrossGrangeismyown, sir,’ heinterrupted, wincing.‘Ishouldnotallowanyonetoinconvenienceme, ifIcouldhinderit—walkin!’
The ‘walkin’ wasutteredwithclosedteeth, andexpressedthesentiment, ‘GototheDeuce.’ eventhegateoverwhichheleantmanifestednosympathisingmovementtothewords; andIthinkthatcircumstancedeterminedmetoaccepttheinvitation: Ifeltinterestedinamanwhoseemedmoreexaggeratedlyreservedthanmyself.
Whenhesawmyhorse’sbreastfairlypushingthebarrier, hedidputouthishandtounchainit, andthensullenlyprecededmeupthecauseway, calling, asweenteredthecourt,—‘Joseph, ’shorse; andbringupsomewine.’
‘Herewehavethewholeestablishmentofdomestics, Isuppose,’ wasthereflectionsuggestedbythiscompoundorder.’Nowonderthegrassgrowsupbetweentheflags, andcattlearetheonlyhedgecutters.’
