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of candidates。 Miss Miggs attending at the time appointed； was
instantly chosen and selected from one hundred and twenty…four
competitors； and at once promoted to the office； which she held
until her decease； more than thirty years afterwards； remaining
single all that time。 It was observed of this lady that while she
was inflexible and grim to all her female flock； she was
particularly so to those who could establish any claim to beauty：
and it was often remarked as a proof of her indomitable virtue and
severe chastity； that to such as had been frail she showed no
mercy； always falling upon them on the slightest occasion； or on no
occasion at all； with the fullest measure of her wrath。 Among
other useful inventions which she practised upon this class of
offenders and bequeathed to posterity； was the art of inflicting an
exquisitely vicious poke or dig with the wards of a key in the
small of the back； near the spine。 She likewise originated a mode
of treading by accident （in pattens） on such as had small feet；
also very remarkable for its ingenuity； and previously quite
unknown。
It was not very long； you may be sure； before Joe Willet and Dolly
Varden were made husband and wife； and with a handsome sum in bank
（for the locksmith could afford to give his daughter a good dowry）；
reopened the Maypole。 It was not very long； you may be sure；
before a red…faced little boy was seen staggering about the Maypole
passage； and kicking up his heels on the green before the door。 It
was not very long； counting by years； before there was a red…faced
little girl； another red…faced little boy； and a whole troop of
girls and boys： so that； go to Chigwell when you would； there would
surely be seen； either in the village street； or on the green； or
frolicking in the farm…yardfor it was a farm now； as well as a
tavernmore small Joes and small Dollys than could be easily
counted。 It was not a very long time before these appearances
ensued； but it WAS a VERY long time before Joe looked five years
older； or Dolly either； or the locksmith either； or his wife
either： for cheerfulness and content are great beautifiers； and
are famous preservers of youthful looks； depend upon it。
It was a long time； too； before there was such a country inn as the
Maypole； in all England： indeed it is a great question whether
there has ever been such another to this hour； or ever will be。 It
was a long time toofor Never； as the proverb says； is a long day
before they forgot to have an interest in wounded soldiers at the
Maypole； or before Joe omitted to refresh them； for the sake of his
old campaign； or before the serjeant left off looking in there； now
and then； or before they fatigued themselves； or each other； by
talking on these occasions of battles and sieges； and hard weather
and hard service； and a thousand things belonging to a soldier's
life。 As to the great silver snuff…box which the King sent Joe
with his own hand； because of his conduct in the Riots； what guest
ever went to the Maypole without putting finger and thumb into that
box； and taking a great pinch； though he had never taken a pinch of
snuff before； and almost sneezed himself into convulsions even
then？ As to the purple…faced vintner； where is the man who lived
in those times and never saw HIM at the Maypole： to all appearance
as much at home in the best room； as if he lived there？ And as to
the feastings and christenings； and revellings at Christmas； and
celebrations of birthdays； wedding…days； and all manner of days；
both at the Maypole and the Golden Key；if they are not notorious；
what facts are？
Mr Willet the elder； having been by some extraordinary means
possessed with the idea that Joe wanted to be married； and that it
would be well for him； his father； to retire into private life； and
enable him to live in comfort； took up his abode in a small cottage
at Chigwell； where they widened and enlarged the fireplace for him；
hung up the boiler； and furthermore planted in the little garden
outside the front…door； a fictitious Maypole； so that he was quite
at home directly。 To this； his new habitation； Tom Cobb； Phil
Parkes； and Solomon Daisy went regularly every night： and in the
chimney…corner； they all four quaffed； and smoked； and prosed； and
dozed； as they had done of old。 It being accidentally discovered
after a short time that Mr Willet still appeared to consider
himself a landlord by profession； Joe provided him with a slate；
upon which the old man regularly scored up vast accounts for meat；
drink； and tobacco。 As he grew older this passion increased upon
him； and it became his delight to chalk against the name of each of
his cronies a sum of enormous magnitude； and impossible to be paid：
and such was his secret joy in these entries； that he would be
perpetually seen going behind the door to look at them； and coming
forth again； suffused with the liveliest satisfaction。
He never recovered the surprise the Rioters had given him； and
remained in the same mental condition down to the last moment of
his life。 It was like to have been brought to a speedy
termination by the first sight of his first grandchild； which
appeared to fill him with the belief that some alarming miracle had
happened to Joe。 Being promptly blooded； however； by a skilful
surgeon； he rallied； and although the doctors all agreed； on his
being attacked with symptoms of apoplexy six months afterwards；
that he ought to die； and took it very ill that he did not； he
remained alivepossibly on account of his constitutional slowness
for nearly seven years more； when he was one morning found
speechless in his bed。 He lay in this state； free from all tokens
of uneasiness； for a whole week； when he was suddenly restored to
consciousness by hearing the nurse whisper in his son's ear that he
was going。 'I'm a…going； Joseph；' said Mr Willet； turning round
upon the instant； 'to the Salwanners'and immediately gave up
the ghost。
He left a large sum of money behind him； even more than he was
supposed to have been worth； although the neighbours； according to
the custom of mankind in calculating the wealth that other people
ought to have saved； had estimated his property in good round
numbers。 Joe inherited the whole； so that he became a man of great
consequence in those parts； and was perfectly independent。
Some time elapsed before Barnaby got the better of the shock he had
sustained； or regained his old health and gaiety。 But he recovered
by degrees： and although he could never separate his condemnation
and escape from the idea of a terrific dream； he became； in other
respects； more rational。 Dating from the time of his recovery； he
had a better memory and greater steadiness of purpose； but a dark
cloud overhung his whole previous existence； and never cleared
away。
He was not the less happy for this； for his love of freedom and
interest in all that moved or grew； or had its being in the
elements； remained to him unimpaired。 He lived with his mother on
the Maypole farm； tending the poultry and the cattle； working in a
garden of his own； and helping everywhere。 He was known to every
bird and beast about the place； and had a name for every one。
Never was there a lighter…hearted husbandman； a creature more
popular with young and old； a blither or more happy soul than
Barnaby； and though he was free to ramble where he would； he never
quitted Her； but was for evermore her stay and comfort。
It was remarkable that although he had that dim sense of the past；
he sought out Hugh's dog； and took him under his care； and that he
never could be tempted into London。 When the Riots were many years
old； and Edward and his wife came back to England with a family
almost as numerous as Dolly's； and one day appeared at the Maypole
porch； he knew them instantly； and wept and leaped for joy。 But
neither to visit them； nor on any other pretence； no matter how
full of promise and enjoyment； could he be persuaded to set foot in
the streets： nor did he ever conquer this repugnance or look upon
the town again。
Grip soon recovered his looks； and became as glossy and sleek as
ever。 But he was profoundly silent。 Whether he had forgotten the
art of Polite Conversation in Newgate