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windows and moulded parapet above himnot to study them as features
of ancient architecture； but just to give as healthful a stretch to
the eyes as his acquaintance had done to his back。 'Michael； a old
man like you ought to think about other things； and not be looking
two ways at your time of life。 Pouncing upon young flesh like a
carrion crow'tis a vile thing in a old man。'
''Tis； and yet 'tis not； for 'tis a naterel taste；' said the
milkman； again surveying Ethelberta； who had now paused upon a
bridge in full view； to look down the river。 'Now； if a poor needy
feller like myself could only catch her alone when she's dressed up
to the nines for some grand party； and carry her off to some lonely
placesakes； what a pot of jewels and goold things I warrant he'd
find about her！ 'Twould pay en for his trouble。'
'I don't dispute the picter； but 'tis sly and untimely to think such
roguery。 Though I've had thoughts like it； 'tis true； about high
womenLord forgive me for't。'
'And that figure of fashion standing there is a widow woman； so I
hear？'
'Ladynot a penny less than lady。 Ay； a thing of twenty…one or
thereabouts。'
'A widow lady and twenty…one。 'Tis a backward age for a body who's
so forward in her state of life。'
'Well； be that as 'twill； here's my showings for her age。 She was
about the figure of two or three…and…twenty when a' got off the
carriage last night； tired out wi' boaming about the country； and
nineteen this morning when she came downstairs after a sleep round
the clock and a clane…washed face： so I thought to myself； twenty…
one； I thought。'
'And what's the young woman's name； make so bold； hostler？'
'Ay； and the house were all in a stoor with her and the old woman；
and their boxes and camp…kettles； that they carry to wash in because
hand…basons bain't big enough； and I don't know what all； and
t'other folk stopping here were no more than dirt thencefor'ard。'
'I suppose they've come out of some noble city a long way herefrom？'
'And there was her hair up in buckle as if she'd never seen a clay…
cold man at all。 However； to cut a long story short； all I know
besides about 'em is that the name upon their luggage is Lady
Petherwin； and she's the widow of a city gentleman； who was a man of
valour in the Lord Mayor's Show。'
'Who's that chap in the gaiters and pack at his back； come out of
the door but now？' said the milkman； nodding towards a figure of
that description who had just emerged from the inn and trudged off
in the direction taken by the ladynow out of sight。
'Chap in the gaiters？ Chok' it allwhy； the father of that
nobleman that you call chap in the gaiters used to be hand in glove
with half the Queen's court。'
'What d'ye tell o'？'
'That man's father was one of the mayor and corporation of
Sandbourne； and was that familiar with men of money； that he'd slap
'em upon the shoulder as you or I or any other poor fool would the
clerk of the parish。'
'O； what's my lordlin's name； make so bold； then？'
'Ay； the toppermost class nowadays have left off the use of wheels
for the good of their constitutions； so they traipse and walk for
many years up foreign hills； where you can see nothing but snow and
fog； till there's no more left to walk up； and if they reach home
alive； and ha'n't got too old and weared out； they walk and see a
little of their own parishes。 So they tower about with a pack and a
stick and a clane white pocket…handkerchief over their hats just as
you see he's got on his。 He's been staying here a night； and is off
now again。 〃Young man； young man；〃 I think to myself； 〃if your
shoulders were bent like a bandy and your knees bowed out as mine
be； till there is not an inch of straight bone or gristle in 'ee；
th' wouldstn't go doing hard work for play 'a b'lieve。〃'
'True； true； upon my song。 Such a pain as I have had in my lynes
all this day to be sure； words don't know what shipwreck I suffer in
these lynes o' minethat they do not！ And what was this young
widow lady's maiden name； then； hostler？ Folk have been peeping
after her； that's true； but they don't seem to know much about her
family。'
'And while I've tended horses fifty year that other folk might
straddle 'em； here I be now not a penny the better！ Often…times；
when I see so many good things about； I feel inclined to help myself
in common justice to my pocket。
〃Work hard and be poor；
Do nothing and get more。〃
But I draw in the horns of my mind and think to myself； 〃Forbear；
John Hostler； forbear！〃Her maiden name？ Faith； I don't know the
woman's maiden name； though she said to me； 〃Good evening； John；〃
but I had no memory of ever seeing her aforeno； no more than the
dead inside church…hatchwhere I shall soon be likewiseI had not。
〃Ay； my nabs；〃 I think to myself； 〃more know Tom Fool than Tom Fool
knows。〃'
'More know Tom Foolwhat rambling old canticle is it you say；
hostler？' inquired the milkman； lifting his ear。 'Let's have it
againa good saying well spit out is a Christmas fire to my
withered heart。 More know Tom Fool'
'Than Tom Fool knows；' said the hostler。
'Ah！ That's the very feeling I've feeled over and over again；
hostler； but not in such gifted language。 'Tis a thought I've had
in me for years； and never could lick into shape！O…ho…ho…ho！
Splendid！ Say it again； hostler； say it again！ To hear my own poor
notion that had no name brought into form like thatI wouldn't ha'
lost it for the world！ More know Tom Fool thanthanh…ho…ho…ho…
ho！'
'Don't let your sense o' vitness break out in such uproar； for
heaven's sake； or folk will surely think you've been laughing at the
lady and gentleman。 Well； here's at it againNight t'ee； Michael。'
And the hostler went on with his sweeping。
'Night t'ee； hostler； I must move too；' said the milkman；
shouldering his yoke； and walking off； and there reached the inn in
a gradual diminuendo； as he receded up the street； shaking his head
convulsively； 'More knowTom Foolthan Tom Foolho…ho…ho…ho…ho！'
The 'Red Lion；' as the inn or hotel was called which of late years
had become the fashion among tourists； because of the absence from
its precincts of all that was fashionable and new； stood near the
middle of the town； and formed a corner where in winter the winds
whistled and assembled their forces previous to plunging helter…
skelter along the streets。 In summer it was a fresh and pleasant
spot； convenient for such quiet characters as sojourned there to
study the geology and beautiful natural features of the country
round。
The lady whose appearance had asserted a difference between herself
and the Anglebury people； without too clearly showing what that
difference was； passed out of the town in a few moments and；
following the highway across meadows fed by the Froom； she crossed
the railway and soon got into a lonely heath。 She had been watching
the base of a cloud as it closed down upon the line of a distant
ridge； like an upper upon a lower eyelid； shutting in the gaze of
the evening sun。 She was about to return before dusk came on； when
she heard a commotion in the air immediately behind and above her
head。 The s