第69章

hadledhimintoourkitchen，withanapologyateverystep，andgivenhimhotschnappsandwater，andacigarroofbraveTomFaggus：’younevercansaymuch，sir，inthewayofreasoning(howevergentlymeantandput)butwhatthesewomenwillflyout。Itiswisertoputawildbirdinacage，andexpecthimtositandlookatyou，andchirpwithoutafeatherrumpled，thanitistoexpectawomantoanswerreasonreasonably。’

Sayingthis，helookedathispuffofsmokeasifitcontainedmorereason。

’IamsureIdonotknow，sir，’Iansweredaccordingtoaphrasewhichhasalwaysbeenmyfavourite，onaccountofitsgeneraltruth：moreover，hewasnowourguest，andhadrighttobetreatedaccordingly：’Iam，asyousee，notacquaintedwiththewaysofwomen，exceptmymotherandsisters。’

’Exceptnoteventhem，myson，saidtheCounsellor，nowhavingfinishedhisglass，withoutmuchconsultationaboutit；’ifyouonceunderstandyourmotherandsisters——whyyouunderstandthelotofthem。’

Hemadeatwistinhiscloudofsmoke，anddashedhisfingerthroughit，sothatIcouldnotfollowhismeaning，andinmannerslikednottopresshim。

’Nowofthisbusiness，John，’hesaid，aftergettingtothebottomofthesecondglass，andhavingatrifleorsotoeat，andpraisingourchimney-corner；’takingyouonthewhole，youknow，youarewonderfullygoodpeople；andinsteadofgivingmeuptothesoldiers，asyoumighthavedone，youaredoingyourbesttomakemedrunk。’

’Notatall，sir，’Ianswered；’notatall，yourworship。Letmemixyouanotherglass。Werarelyhaveagreatgentlemanbythesideofourembersandoven。

Ionlybegyourpardon，sir，thatmysisterAnnie(whoknowswheretofindallthegoodpansandthelard)

couldnotwaituponyouthisevening；andIfeartheyhavedoneitwithdrippinginstead，andinapanwiththebottomburned。ButoldBettyquitelosesherheadsometimes，bydintofover-scolding。’

’Myson，’repliedtheCounsellor，standingacrossthefrontofthefire，toprovehisstrictsobriety：’I

meanttocomedownuponyouto-night；butyouhaveturnedthetablesuponme。Notthroughanyskillonyourpart，northroughanypaltryweaknessastolove(andallthatstuff，whichboysandgirlsspintopsat，orknockdolls’nosestogether)，butthroughyoursimplewayoftakingme，asamantobebelieved；

combinedwiththecomfortofthisplace，andthechoicetobaccoandcordials。Ihavenotenjoyedaneveningsomuch，GodblessmeifIknowwhen!’

’Yourworship，’saidI，’makesmemoreproudthanI

wellknowwhattodowith。Ofallthethingsthatpleaseandleadusintohappysleepatnight，thefirstandchiefestistothinkthatwehavepleasedavisitor。’

’Then，John，thouhastdeservedgoodsleep；forIamnotpleasedeasily。Butalthoughourfamilyisnotsohighnowasithathbeen，Ihaveenoughofthegentlemanlefttobepleasedwhengoodpeopletryme。

Myfather，SirEnsor，wasbetterthanIinthisgreatelementofbirth，andmysonCarverisfarworse。

Aetasparentum，whatisit，myboy？Ihearthatyouhavebeenatagrammar-school。’

’SoIhave，yourworship，andataverygoodone；butI

onlygotfarenoughtomakemoretailthanheadofLatin。’

’Letthatpass，’saidtheCounsellor；’John，thouartallthewiser。’Andtheoldmanshookhishoarylocks，asifLatinhadbeenhisruin。Ilookedathimsadly，andwonderedwhetheritmighthavesoruinedme，butforGod’smercyinstoppingit。

ThatnightthereverendCounsellor，notbeinginsuchstateofmindasoughttogoalone，kindlytookourbestoldbedstead，carvedinpanels，wellenough，withthewomanofSamaria。Isethimup，bothstraightandheavy，sothatheneedbutclosebotheyes，andkeephismouthjustopen；andinthemorninghewasthankfulforallthathecouldremember。

I，formypart，scarcelyknewwhetherhereallyhadbeguntofeelgoodwilltowardsus，andtoseethatnothingelsecouldbeofanyusetohim；orwhetherhewasmerelyacting，soastodeceiveus。Andithadstruckme，severaltimes，thathehadmadeagreatdealmoreofthespirithehadtakenthanthequantitywouldwarrant，withamansowisean