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lived with the old gentlewoman； who was very kind to me； almost as
kind as a mother； at last she fell sick at a place in Lincolnshire；
and after a few days died； leaving me her cart and stock in trade；
praying me only to see her decently buried … which I did； giving
her a funeral fit for a gentlewoman。 After which I travelled the
country … melancholy enough for want of company； but so far
fortunate； that I could take my own part when anybody was uncivil
to me。 At last； passing through the valley of Todmorden； I formed
the acquaintance of Blazing Bosville and his wife； with whom I
occasionally took journeys for company's sake； for it is melancholy
to travel about alone； even when one can take one's own part。 I
soon found they were evil people； but； upon the whole； they treated
me civilly； and I sometimes lent them a little money； so that we
got on tolerably well together。 He and I； it is true； had once a
dispute； and nearly came to blows； for once； when we were alone； he
wanted me to marry him； promising； if I would； to turn off Grey
Moll； or； if I liked it better； to make her wait upon me as a maid…
servant； I never liked him much； but from that hour less than ever。
Of the two； I believe Grey Moll to be the best； for she is at any
rate true and faithful to him； and I like truth and constancy …
don't you； young man？'
'Yes；' said I； 'they are very nice things。 I feel very strangely。'
'How do you feel； young man？
'Very much afraid。'
'Afraid； at what？ At the Flaming Tinman？ Don't be afraid of him。
He won't come back； and if he did； he shouldn't touch you in this
state； I'd fight him for you； but he won't come back； so you
needn't be afraid of him。'
'I'm not afraid of the Flaming Tinman。'
'What； then； are you afraid of？'
'The evil one。'
'The evil one！' said the girl； 'where is he？'
'Coming upon me。'
'Never heed；' said the girl； 'I'll stand by you。'
CHAPTER LXXXVII
Hubbub of voices … No offence … Nodding … The guests。
THE kitchen of the public…house was a large one； and many people
were drinking in it； there was a confused hubbub of voices。
I sat down on a bench behind a deal table； of which there were
three or four in the kitchen； presently a bulky man； in a green
coat of the Newmarket cut； and without a hat； entered； and
observing me； came up； and in rather a gruff tone cried； 'Want
anything； young fellow？'
'Bring me a jug of ale；' said I； 'if you are the master； as I
suppose you are； by that same coat of yours； and your having no hat
on your head。'
'Don't be saucy； young fellow；' said the landlord； for such he was；
'don't be saucy； or … ' Whatever he intended to say he left
unsaid； for fixing his eyes upon one of my hands； which I had
placed by chance upon the table； he became suddenly still。
This was my left hand； which was raw and swollen； from the blows
dealt on a certain hard skull in a recent combat。 'What do you
mean by staring at my hand so？' said I； with…drawing it from the
table。
'No offence； young man； no offence；' said the landlord； in a quite
altered tone； 'but the sight of your hand … ' then observing that
our conversation began to attract the notice of the guests in the
kitchen； he interrupted himself； saying in an undertone； 'But mum's
the word for the present； I will go and fetch the ale。'
In about a minute he returned； with a jug of ale foaming high。
'Here's your health；' said he； blowing off the foam； and drinking；
but perceiving that I looked rather dissatisfied； he murmured；
'All's right； I glory in you； but mum's the word。' Then； placing
the jug on the table； he gave me a confidential nod； and swaggered
out of the room。
What can the silly impertinent fellow mean？ thought I； but the ale
was now before me； and I hastened to drink； for my weakness was
great； and my mind was full of dark thoughts； the remains of the
indescribable horror of the preceding night。 It may kill me；
thought I； as I drank deep … but who cares？ anything is better than
what I have suffered。 I drank deep； and then leaned back against
the wall： it appeared as if a vapour was stealing up into my
brain； gentle and benign； soothing and stifling the horror and the
fear； higher and higher it mounted； and I felt nearly overcome； but
the sensation was delicious； compared with that I had lately
experienced； and now I felt myself nodding； and； bending down； I
laid my head on the table on my folded hands。
And in that attitude I remained some time； perfectly unconscious。
At length； by degrees； perception returned； and I lifted up my
head。 I felt somewhat dizzy and bewildered； but the dark shadow
had withdrawn itself from me。 And now once more I drank of the
jug； this second draught did not produce an overpowering effect
upon me … it revived and strengthened me … I felt a new man。
I looked around me； the kitchen had been deserted by the greater
part of the guests； besides myself； only four remained； these were
seated at the farther end。 One was haranguing fiercely and
eagerly； he was abusing England； and praising America。 At last he
exclaimed； 'So when I gets to New York； I will toss up my hat； and
damn the King。'
That man must be a Radical； thought I。
CHAPTER LXXXVIII
A Radical … Simple…looking man … Church of England … The President
… Aristocracy … Gin and water … Mending the roads … Persecuting
Church … Simon de Montfort … Broken bells … Get up … Not for the
Pope … Quay of New York … Mumpers' Dingle … No wish to fight …
First draught … A poor pipe … Half…a…crown broke。
THE individual whom I supposed to be a Radical； after a short
pause； again uplifted his voice； he was rather a strong…built
fellow of about thirty； with an ill…favoured countenance； a white
hat on his head； a snuff…coloured coat on his back； and when he was
not speaking； a pipe in his mouth。 'Who would live in such a
country as England？' he shouted。
'There is no country like America；' said his nearest neighbour； a
man also in a white hat； and of a very ill…favoured countenance …
'there is no country like America；' said he； withdrawing a pipe
from his mouth； 'I think I shall … ' and here he took a draught
from a jug； the contents of which he appeared to have in common
with the other； … 'go to America one of these days myself。'
'Poor old England is not such a bad country； after all；' said a
third； a simple…looking man in a labouring dress； who sat smoking a
pipe without anything before him。 'If there was but a little more
work to be got； I should have nothing to say against her； I hope；
however … '
'You hope！ who cares what you hope？' interrupted the first； in a
savage tone； 'you are one of those sneaking hounds who are
satisfied with dogs' wages … a bit of bread and a kick。 Work；
indeed！ who； with the spirit of a man； would work for a country
where there is neither liberty of speech nor of action？ a land full
of beggarly aristocracy； hungry borough…mongers； insolent parsons；
and 〃their 。 。 。 wives and daughters；〃 as William Cobbett says； in
his 〃Register。〃'
'Ah； the Church of England has been a source of incalculable
mischief to these realms；' said another。
The person who uttered these words sat rather aloof from the rest；
he was dressed in a long black surtout。 I could not see much of
his face； partly owing to his keeping it very much directed to the
ground； and partly owing to a large slouched hat which he wore； I
observed； however； that his hair was of a reddish tinge。 On the
table near him was a glass and spoon。
'You are quite right；' said the first； alluding to what this last
had said； 'the Church of England has done incalculable mischief
here。 I value no religion three halfpence； for I believe in none；
but the one that I hate most is the Church of England； so when I
get to New York； after I have shown the fine fellows on the quay a
spice of me； by 。 。 。 the King； I'll toss up my hat again； and 。 。
。 the Church of England too。'
'And suppose the people of New York should clap you in the stocks？'
said I。
These words drew upon me the attention of the whole four。 The
Radical and his companion stared at me ferociously； the man in
black gave me a peculiar glance from under his slouched hat； the
simple…looking man in the labouring dress laughed。
'What are you laughing at； you fool？' said the Radical； turning and
looking at the other； who appeared to be afraid of him； 'hold your
noise； and a pretty fellow； you；' said he； looking at me； 'to come
here； and speak against the great American nation。'
'I speak against the great American nation！' said I； 'I rather paid
them a compliment。'
'By supposing they would put me in the stocks。 Well； I call it
abu