I dont permit it! I wont allow it! And before Evan could ask his reasons, he had rung the bell, muttering: They follow us to our inns, now, the baggages! They must harry us at our inns! We cant have peace and quiet at our inns!
In a state of combustion, he cried out to the waiter:
Here, Mark, this gentleman has brought in a dirty wench: pack her up to my bed-room, and lock her in lock her in, and bring down the key.
Agreeably deceived in the old gentlemans intentions, Evan could not refrain from joining the murmured hilarity created by the conclusion of his order. The latter glared at him, and added: Now, sir, youve done your worst. Sit down, and be merry.
Replying that he had a friend outside, and would not fail to accept the invitation, Evan retired. He was met by the hostess with the reproachful declaration on her lips, that she was a widow woman, wise in appearances, and that he had brought into her house that night work she did not expect, or bargain for. Rather (since I must speak truth of my gentleman) to silence her on the subject, and save his ears, than to propitiate her favour towards the girl, Evan drew out his constitutionally lean purse, and dropped it in her hand, praying her to put every expense incurred to his charge. She exclaimed:
If Dr. Pillie has his full sleep this night, I shall be astonished; and Evan hastily led Jack into the passage to impart to him, that the extent of his resources was reduced to the smallest of sums in shillings.
I can beat my friend at that reckoning, said Mr. Raikes; and they entered the room.
Eyes were on him. This had ever the effect of causing him to swell to monstrous proportions in the histrionic line. Asking the waiter carelessly for some light supper dish, he suggested the various French, with not that? and the affable naming of another. Nor that? Dear me, we shall have to sup on chops, I believe!
Evan saw the chairman scrutinizing Raikes, much as he himself might have done, and he said: Bread and cheese for me.
Raikes exclaimed: Really? Well, my lord, you lead, and your taste is mine!
A second waiter scudded past, and stopped before the chairman to say: If you please, sir, the gentlemen upstairs send their compliments, and will be happy to accept.
Ha! was the answer. Thought better of it, have they! Lay for three more, then. Five more, I guess. He glanced at the pair of intruders.
Among a portion of the guests there had been a return to common talk, and one had observed that he could not get that Good Evening, and Good Night, out of his head which had caused a friend to explain the meaning of these terms of salutation to him: while another, of a philosophic turn, pursued the theme: You see, when we meets, we makes a night of it. So, when we parts, its Good Nightnatural! aint it? A proposition assented to, and considerably dilated on; but whether he was laughing at that, or what had aroused the fit, the chairman did not say.
Gentle chuckles had succeeded his laughter by the time the bread and cheese appeared.
In the rear of the provision came three young gentlemen, of whom the foremost lumped in, singing to one behind him, And you shall have little Rosey!
They were clad in cricketing costume, and exhibited the health and manners of youthful Englishmen of station. Frolicsome young bulls bursting on an assemblage of sheep, they might be compared to. The chairman welcomed them a trifle snubbingly. The colour mounted to the cheeks of Mr. Raikes as he made incision in the cheese, under their eyes, knitting his brows fearfully, as if at hard work.
The chairman entreated Evan to desist from the cheese; and, pulling out his watch, thundered: Time!
The company generally jumped on their legs; and, in the midst of a hum of talk and laughter, he informed Evan and Jack, that he invited them cordially to a supper up-stairs, and would be pleased if they would partake of it, and in a great rage if they would not.
Raikes was for condescending to accept.
Evan sprang up and cried: Gladly, sir, and gladly would he have cast his cockney schoolmate to the winds, in the presence of these young cricketers; for he had a prognostication.
The door was open, and the company of jolly yeomen, tradesmen, farmers, and the like, had become intent on observing all the ceremonies of precedence: not one would broaden his back on the other; and there was bowing, and scraping, and grimacing, till Farmer Broadmead was hailed aloud, and the old boy stepped forth, and was summarily pushed through: the chairman calling from the rear, Hulloa! no names to-night! to which was answered lustily: All right, Mr. Tom! and the speaker was reproved with, There you go! at it again! and out and up they hustled.
The chairman said quietly to Evan, as they were ascending the stairs: We dont have names to-night; may as well drop titles. Which presented no peculiar meaning to Evans mind, and he smiled the usual smile.
To Raikes, at the door of the supper-room, the chairman repeated the same; and with extreme affability and alacrity of abnegation, the other rejoined, Oh, certainly!
No wonder that he rubbed his hands with more delight than aristocrats and people with gentlemanly connections are in the habit of betraying at the prospect of refection, for the release from bread and cheese was rendered overpoweringly glorious, in his eyes, by the bountiful contrast exhibited on the board before him.
CHAPTER XII. IN WHICH ALE IS SHOWN TO HAVE ONE QUALITY OF WINE
To proclaim that yon ribs of beef and yonder ruddy Britons have met, is to furnish matter for an hours comfortable meditation.
Digest the fact. Here the Fates have put their seal to something Nature clearly devised. It was intended; and it has come to pass. A thing has come to pass which we feel to be right! The machinery of the world, then, is not entirely dislocated: there is harmony, on one point, among the mysterious powers who have to do with us.