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'Now； where's the inn？' said Mountclere； yawning。
'Just on the knap；' Sol answered。 ''Tis a little small place； and
we must do as well as we can。'
They pulled up before a cottage； upon the whitewashed front of which
could be seen a square board representing the sign。 After an
infinite labour of rapping and shouting； a casement opened overhead；
and a woman's voice inquired what was the matter。 Sol explained；
when she told them that the horses were away from home。
'Now we must wait till these are rested；' growled Mountclere。 'A
pretty muddle！'
'It cannot be helped；' answered Sol； and he asked the woman to open
the door。 She replied that her husband was away with the horses and
van； and that they could not come in。
Sol was known to her； and he mentioned his name； but the woman only
began to abuse him。
'Come； publican； you'd better let us in； or we'll have the law
for't；' rejoined Sol； with more spirit。 'You don't dare to keep
nobility waiting like this。'
'Nobility！'
'My mate hev the title of Honourable； whether or no； so let's have
none of your slack；' said Sol。
'Don't be a fool； young chopstick；' exclaimed Mountclere。 'Get the
door opened。'
'I willin my own way；' said Sol testily。 'You mustn't mind my
trading upon your quality； as 'tis a case of necessity。 This is a
woman nothing will bring to reason but an appeal to the higher
powers。 If every man of title was as useful as you are to…night；
sir； I'd never call them lumber again as long as I live。'
'How singular！'
'There's never a bit of rubbish that won't come in use if you keep
it seven years。'
'If my utility depends upon keeping you company； may I go to h…
for lacking every atom of the virtue。'
'Hear； hear！ But it hardly is becoming in me to answer up to a man
so much older than I； or I could say more。 Suppose we draw a line
here for the present； sir； and get indoors？'
'Do what you will； in Heaven's name。'
A few more words to the woman resulted in her agreeing to admit them
if they would attend to themselves afterwards。 This Sol promised；
and the key of the door was let down to them from the bedroom window
by a string。 When they had entered； Sol； who knew the house well；
busied himself in lighting a fire； the driver going off with a
lantern to the stable； where he found standing…room for the two
horses。 Mountclere walked up and down the kitchen； mumbling words
of disgust at the situation； the few of this kind that he let out
being just enough to show what a fearfully large number he kept in。
'A…calling up people at this time of morning！' the woman
occasionally exclaimed down the stairs。 'But folks show no mercy
upon their flesh and bloodnot one bit or mite。'
'Now never be stomachy； my good soul；' cried Sol from the fireplace；
where he stood blowing the fire with his breath。 'Only tell me
where the victuals bide； and I'll do all the cooking。 We'll pay
like princesespecially my mate。'
'There's but little in house；' said the sleepy woman from her
bedroom。 'There's pig's fry； a side of bacon； a conger eel； and
pickled onions。'
'Conger eel？' said Sol to Mountclere。
'No； thank you。'
'Pig's fry？'
'No； thank you。'
'Well； then； tell me where the bacon is；' shouted Sol to the woman。
'You must find it；' came again down the stairs。 ''Tis somewhere up
in chimley； but in which part I can't mind。 Really I don't know
whether I be upon my head or my heels； and my brain is all in a
spin； wi' being rafted up in such a larry！'
'Bide where you be； there's a dear；' said Sol。 'We'll do it all。
Just tell us where the tea…caddy is； and the gridiron； and then you
can go to sleep again。'
The woman appeared to take his advice； for she gave the information；
and silence soon reigned upstairs。
When one piece of bacon had been with difficulty cooked over the
newly…lit fire； Sol said to Mountclere； with the rasher on his fork：
'Now look here； sir； I think while I am making the tea； you ought to
go on griddling some more of these； as you haven't done nothing at
all？'
'I do the paying。 。 。 。 Well； give me the bacon。'
'And when you have done yours； I'll cook the man's； as the poor
feller's hungry； I make no doubt。'
Mountclere； fork in hand； then began with his rasher； tossing it
about the gridiron in masterly style； Sol attending to the tea。 He
was attracted from this occupation by a brilliant flame up the
chimney； Mountclere exclaiming； 'Now the cursed thing is on fire！'
'Blow it outhardthat's it！ Well now； sir； do you come and begin
upon mine； as you must be hungry。 I'll finish the griddling。 Ought
we to mind the man sitting down in our company； as there's no other
room for him？ I hear him coming in。'
'O nonot at all。 Put him over at that table。'
'And I'll join him。 You can sit here by yourself； sir。'
The meal was despatched； and the coachman again retired； promising
to have the horses ready in about an hour and a half。 Sol and
Mountclere made themselves comfortable upon either side of the
fireplace； since there was no remedy for the delay： after sitting
in silence awhile； they nodded and slept。
How long they would have remained thus； in consequence of their
fatigues； there is no telling； had not the mistress of the cottage
descended the stairs about two hours later； after peeping down upon
them at intervals of five minutes during their sleep； lest they
should leave without her knowledge。 It was six o'clock； and Sol
went out for the man； whom he found snoring in the hay…loft。 There
was now real necessity for haste； and in ten minutes they were again
on their way。
Day dawned upon the 'Red Lion' inn at Anglebury with a timid and
watery eye。 From the shadowy archway came a shining lantern； which
was seen to be dangling from the hand of a little bow…legged old
manthe hostler； John。 Having reached the front； he looked around
to measure the daylight； opened the lantern； and extinguished it by
a pinch of his fingers。 He paused for a moment to have the
customary word or two with his neighbour the milkman； who usually
appeared at this point at this time。
'It sounds like the whistle of the morning train；' the milkman said
as he drew near； a scream from the further end of the town reaching
their ears。 'Well； I hope； now the wind's in that quarter； we shall
ha'e a little more fine weatherhey； hostler？'
'What be ye a talking o'？'
'Can hear the whistle plain； I say。'
'O ay。 I suppose you do。 But faith； 'tis a poor fist I can make at
hearing anything。 There； I could have told all the same that the
wind was in the east； even if I had not seed poor Thomas Tribble's
smoke blowing across the little orchard。 Joints be a true
weathercock enough when past three…score。 These easterly rains；
when they do come； which is not often； come wi' might enough to
squail a man into his grave。'
'Well； we must look for it； hostler。 。 。 。 Why； what mighty
ekkypage is this； come to town at such a purblinking time of day？'
''Tis what time only can tellthough 'twill not be long first；' the
hostler replied； as the driver of the pair of horses and carriage
containing Sol and Mountclere slackened p