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amounted to 〃three shillings and a puddn。〃
〃Three shillings and a puddn！monstrous！and for this you toil like a
galley…slave； as I have seen them in Turkey and America；ay； gentlemen；
and in the country of Prester John！ You shiver out of bed on icy winter
mornings； to break the ice for Ball and Dapple to drink。〃
〃Yes； indeed；〃 said the person addressed； who seemed astounded at the
extent of the Corporal's information。
〃Or you clean pigsty； and take dung down to meadow； or you act
watchdog and tend sheep； or you sweep a scythe over a great field of grass；
and when the sun has scorched the eyes out of your head； and sweated the
flesh off your bones； and well…nigh fried the soul out of your body； you go
home； to what？three shillings a week and a puddn！ Do you get pudding
every day？〃
〃No； only Sundays。〃
〃Do you get money enough？〃
〃No； sure。〃
〃Do you get beer enough？〃
〃Oh no； NEVER！〃 said Mr。 Bullock quite resolutely。
〃Worthy Clodpole； give us thy hand： it shall have beer enough this day；
or my name's not Corporal Brock。 Here's the money； boy！ there are twenty
pieces in this purse： and how do you think I got 'em？ and how do you
think I shall get others when these are gone？by serving Her Sacred
Majesty； to be sure： long life to her； and down with the French King！〃
Bullock； a few of the men； and two or three of the boys； piped out an
hurrah； in compliment to this speech of the Corporal's： but it was remarked
that the greater part of the crowd drew backthe women whispering
ominously to them and looking at the Corporal。
〃I see； ladies； what it is；〃 said he。 〃You are frightened； and think I am a
crimp come to steal your sweethearts away。 What！ call Peter Brock a
double…dealer？ I tell you what； boys； Jack Churchill himself has shaken
this hand； and drunk a pot with me： do you think he'd shake hands with a
rogue？ Here's Tummas Clodpole has never had beer enough； and here am I
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Catherine： A Story
will stand treat to him and any other gentleman： am I good enough
company for him？ I have money； look you； and like to spend it： what
should _I_ be doing dirty actions forhay； Tummas？〃
A satisfactory reply to this query was not； of course； expected by the
Corporal nor uttered by Mr。 Bullock； and the end of the dispute was； that
he and three or four of the rustic bystanders were quite convinced of the
good intentions of their new friend； and accompanied him back to the
〃Bugle；〃 to regale upon the promised beer。 Among the Corporal's guests
was one young fellow whose dress would show that he was somewhat
better to do in the world than Clodpole and the rest of the sunburnt ragged
troop； who were marching towards the alehouse。 This man was the only
one of his hearers who； perhaps； was sceptical as to the truth of his stories；
but as soon as Bullock accepted the invitation to drink； John Hayes； the
carpenter （for such was his name and profession）； said； 〃Well； Thomas； if
thou goest； I will go too。〃
〃I know thee wilt；〃 said Thomas： 〃thou'lt goo anywhere Catty Hall is；
provided thou canst goo for nothing。〃
〃Nay； I have a penny to spend as good as the Corporal here。〃
〃A penny to KEEP； you mean： for all your love for the lass at the
'Bugle；' did thee ever spend a shilling in the house？ Thee wouldn't go now；
but that I am going too； and the Captain here stands treat。〃
〃Come； come； gentlemen； no quarrelling；〃 said Mr。 Brock。 〃If this
pretty fellow will join us； amen say I： there's lots of liquor； and plenty of
money to pay the score。 Comrade Tummas； give us thy arm。 Mr。 Hayes；
you're a hearty cock； I make no doubt； and all such are welcome。 Come
along； my gentleman farmers； Mr。 Brock shall have the honour to pay for
you all。〃 And with this； Corporal Brock； accompanied by Messrs。 Hayes；
Bullock； Blacksmith； Baker's…boy； Butcher； and one or two others；
adjourned to the inn； the horses being； at the same time； conducted to the
stable。
Although we have； in this quiet way； and without any flourishing of
trumpets； or beginning of chapters； introduced Mr。 Hayes to the public；
and although； at first sight； a sneaking carpenter's boy may seem hardly
worthy of the notice of an intelligent reader； who looks for a good cut…
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Catherine： A Story
throat or highwayman for a hero； or a pickpocket at the very least： this
gentleman's words and actions should be carefully studied by the public；
as he is destined to appear before them under very polite and curious
circumstances during the course of this history。 The speech of the rustic
Juvenal； Mr。 Clodpole； had seemed to infer that Hayes was at once careful
of his money and a warm admirer of Mrs。 Catherine of the 〃Bugle：〃 and
both the charges were perfectly true。 Hayes's father was reported to be a
man of some substance； and young John； who was performing his
apprenticeship in the village； did not fail to talk very big of his pretensions
to fortuneof his entering； at the close of his indentures； into partnership
with his fatherand of the comfortable farm and house over which Mrs。
John Hayes； whoever she might be； would one day preside。 Thus； next to
the barber and butcher； and above even his own master； Mr。 Hayes took
rank in the village： and it must not be concealed that his representation of
wealth had made some impression upon Mrs。 Hall toward whom the
young gentleman had cast the eyes of affection。 If he had been tolerably
well…looking； and not pale； rickety； and feeble as he was； if even he had
been ugly； but withal a man of spirit； it is probable the girl's kindness for
him would have been much more decided。 But he was a poor weak
creature； not to compare with honest Thomas Bullock； by at least nine
inches； and so notoriously timid； selfish； and stingy； that there was a kind
of shame in receiving his addresses openly； and what encouragement Mrs。
Catherine gave him could only be in secret。
But no mortal is wise at all times： and the fact was； that Hayes； who
cared for himself intensely； had set his heart upon winning Catherine； and
loved her with a desperate greedy eagerness and desire of possession；
which makes passions for women often so fierce and unreasonable among
very cold and selfish men。 His parents （whose frugality he had inherited）
had tried in vain to wean him from this passion； and had made many
fruitless attempts to engage him with women who possessed money and
desired husbands； but Hayes was； for a wonder； quite proof against their
attractions； and； though quite ready to acknowledge the absurdity of his
love for a penniless alehouse servant…girl； nevertheless persisted in it
doggedly。 〃I know I'm a fool；〃 said he； 〃and what's more； the girl does not
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Catherine： A Story
care for me； but marry her I must； or I think I shall just die： and marry her
I will。〃 For very much to the credit of Miss Catherine's modesty； she had
declared that marriage was with her a sine qua non； and had dismissed；
with the loudest scorn and indignation； all propositions of a less proper
nature。
Poor Thomas Bullock was another of her admirers； and had offered to
marry her； but three shillings a week and a puddn was not to the girl's taste；
and Thomas had been scornfully rejected。 Hayes had also made her a
direct proposal。 Catherine did not say no： she was too prudent： but she was
young and could wait； she did not care for Mr。 Hayes yet enough to marry
him（it did not seem； indeed； in the young woman's nature to care for
anybody）and she gave her adorer flatteringly to understand that； if
nobody better appeared in the course of a few years； she might be induced
to become Mrs。 Hayes。 It was a dismal prospect for the poor fellow to live
upon the hope of being one day Mrs。 Catherine's pis…aller。