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me？ More of ’em！ catching to each other’s skirts； and as fast as
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they go； others come！ What a merry dance it is！ I would that Grip
and I could frisk like that！’
‘What has he in that basket at his back？’ asked the guest after a
few moments； during which Barnaby was still bending down to
look higher up the chimney； and earnestly watching the smoke。
‘In this？’ he answered； jumping up； before John Willet could
reply—shaking it as he spoke； and stooping his head to listen。 ‘In
this！ What is there here？ Tell him！’
‘A devil； a devil； a devil！’ cried a hoarse voice。
‘Here’s money！’ said Barnaby； chinking it in his hand； ‘money
for a treat； Grip！’
‘Hurrah！ Hurrah！ Hurrah！’ replied the raven； ‘keep up your
spirits。 Never say die。 Bow； wow； wow！’
Mr Willet； who appeared to entertain strong doubts whether a
customer in a laced coat and fine linen could be supposed to have
any acquaintance even with the existence of such unpolite gentry
as the bird claimed to belong to； took Barnaby off at this juncture；
with the view of preventing any other improper declarations； and
quitted the room with his very best bow。
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Chapter 11
here was great news that night for the regular Maypole
customers； to each of whom； as he straggled in to occupy
T
his allotted seat in the chimney…corner； John； with a most
impressive slowness of delivery； and in an apoplectic whisper；
communicated the fact that Mr Chester was alone in the large
room upstairs； and was waiting the arrival of Mr Geoffrey
Haredale； to whom he had sent a letter （doubtless of a threatening
nature） by the hands of Barnaby； then and there present。
For a little knot of smokers and solemn gossips； who had
seldom any new topics of discussion； this was a perfect Godsend。
Here was a good； dark…looking mystery progressing under that
very roof—brought home to the fireside； as it were； and enjoyable
without the smallest pains or trouble。 It is extraordinary what a
zest and relish it gave to the drink； and how it heightened the
flavour of the tobacco。 Every man smoked his pipe with a face of
grave and serious delight； and looked at his neighbour with a sort
of quiet congratulation。 Nay； it was felt to be such a holiday and
special night； that； on the motion of little Solomon Daisy； every
man （including John himself） put down his sixpence for a can of
flip； which grateful beverage was brewed with all despatch； and
set down in the midst of them on the brick floor； both that it might
simmer and stew before the fire； and that its fragrant steam； rising
up among them； and mixing with the wreaths of vapour from their
pipes； might shroud them in a delicious atmosphere of their own；
and shut out all the world。 The very furniture of the room seemed
to mellow and deepen in its tone； the ceiling and walls looked
blacker and more highly polished； the curtains of a ruddier red；
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the fire burnt clear and high； and the crickets in the hearthstone
chirped with a more than wonted satisfaction。
There were present two； however； who showed but little
interest in the general contentment。 Of these； one was Barnaby
himself； who slept； or； to avoid being beset with questions； feigned
to sleep； in the chimney…corner； the other； Hugh； who； sleeping
too； lay stretched upon the bench on the opposite side； in the full
glare of the blazing fire。
The light that fell upon this slumbering form； showed it in all its
muscular and handsome proportions。 It was that of a young man；
of a hale athletic figure； and a giant’s strength； whose sunburnt
face and swarthy throat； overgrown with jet black hair； might have
served a painter for a model。 Loosely attired； in the coarsest and
roughest garb； with scraps of straw and hay—his usual bed—
clinging here and there； and mingling with his uncombed locks； he
had fallen asleep in a posture as careless as his dress。 The
negligence and disorder of the whole man； with something fierce
and sullen in his features； gave him a picturesque appearance；
that attracted the regards even of the Maypole customers who
knew him well； and caused Long Parkes to say that Hugh looked
more like a poaching rascal to…night than ever he had seen him
yet。
‘He’s waiting here； I suppose；’ said Solomon； ‘to take Mr
Haredale’s horse。’
‘That’s it； sir；’ replied John Willet。 ‘He’s not often in the house；
you know。 He’s more at his ease among horses than men。 I look
upon him as a animal himself。’
Following up this opinion with a shrug that seemed meant to
say； ‘we can’t expect everybody to be like us；’ John put his pipe
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into his mouth again； and smoked like one who felt his superiority
over the general run of mankind。
‘That chap； sir；’ said John； taking it out again after a time； and
pointing at him with the stem； ‘though he’s got all his faculties
about him—bottled up and corked down； if I may say so；
somewheres or another—’
‘Very good！’ said Parkes； nodding his head。 ‘A very good
expression； Johnny。 You’ll be a tackling somebody presently。
You’re in twig to…night； I see。’
‘Take care；’ said Mr Willet； not at all grateful for the
compliment； ‘that I don’t tackle you； sir； which I shall certainly
endeavour to do； if you interrupt me when I’m making
observations。—That chap； I was a saying； though he has all his
faculties about him； somewheres or another； bottled up and
corked down； has no more imagination than Barnaby has。 And
why hasn’t he？’
The three friends shook their heads at each other； saying by
that action； without the trouble of opening their lips； ‘Do you
observe what a philosophical mind our friend has？’
‘Why hasn’t he？’ said John； gently striking the table with his
open hand。 ‘Because they was never drawed out of him when he
was a boy。 That’s why。 What would any of us have been； if our
fathers hadn’t drawed our faculties out of us？ What would my boy
Joe have been； if I hadn’t drawed his faculties out of him？—Do
you mind what I’m a saying of； gentlemen？’
‘Ah！ we mind you；’ cried Parkes。 ‘Go on improving of us；
Johnny。’
‘Consequently； then；’ said Mr Willet； ‘that chap； whose mother
was hung when he was a little boy； along with six others； for
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passing bad notes—and it’s a blessed thing to think how many
people are hung in batches every six weeks for that； and such like
offences； as showing how wide awake our government is—that
chap that was then turned loose； and had to mind cows； and
frighten birds away； and what not； for a few pence to live on； and
so got on by degrees to mind horses； and to sleep in course of time
in lofts and litter； instead of under