第77章

-asthehappiestfellowbreathing，livingjustthelifeyoudescribedjustnow-respectedbyeverybodyinthisbeat；wheninanevilhourcomesthisBlackJack，thisflamingtinman，intotheseparts，drivenastheysayoutofYorkshire-fornogoodyoumaybesure。Nowthereisnobeatwillsupporttwotinkers，asyoudoubtlessknow；minewasagoodone，butitwouldnotsupporttheflyingtinkerandmyself，thoughifitwouldhavesupportedtwentyitwouldhavebeenallthesametotheflyingvillain，who’llbrooknoonebuthimself；sohepresentlyfindsmeout，andofferstofightmeforthebeat。Now，beingbredupontheroads，Icanfightalittle，thatiswithanythinglikemymatch，butIwasnotgoingtofighthim，whohappenstobetwicemysize，andsoItoldhim；

whereuponheknocksmedown，andwouldhavedonemefarthermischiefhadnotsomemenbeennighandpreventedhim；sohethreatenedtocutmythroat，andwenthisway。Well，Ididnotlikesuchusageatall，andwaswoundilyfrightened，andtriedtokeepasmuchoutofhiswayaspossible，goinganywherebutwhereI

thoughtIwaslikelytomeethim；andsureenoughforseveralmonthsIcontrivedtokeepoutofhisway。AtlastsomebodytoldmethathewasgonebacktoYorkshire，whereuponIwasgladatheart，andventuredtoshowmyself，goinghereandthereasIdidbefore。Well，youngman，itwasyesterdaythatIandminesetourselvesdowninalane，aboutfivemilesfromhere，andlightedourfire，andhadourdinner，andafterdinnerIsatdowntomendthreekettlesandafryingpanwhichthepeopleintheneighbourhoodhadgivenmetomend-for，asItoldyoubefore，I

haveagoodconnection，owingtomyhonesty。Well，asIsattherehardatwork，happyastheday’slong，andthinkingofanythingbutwhatwastohappen，whoshouldcomeupbutthisBlackJack，thiskingofthetinkers，rattlingalonginhiscart，withhiswife，thattheycallGreyMoll，byhisside-forthevillainhasgotawife，andamaid-servanttoo；thelastIneversaw，buttheythathas，saysthatsheisasbigasahouse，andyoung，andwelltolookat，whichcan’tbeallsaidofMoll，who，thoughshe’sbigenoughinallconscience，isneitheryoungnorhandsome。Well，nosoonerdoesheseemeandmine，than，givingthereinstoGreyMoll，hespringsoutofhiscart，andcomesstraightatme；notaworddidhesay，butonhecomesstraightatmelikeawildbull。

Iamaquietman，youngfellow，butIsawnowthatquietnesswouldbeofnouse，soIsprangupuponmylegs，andbeingbredupontheroads，andabletofightalittle，Isquaredashecamerunninginuponme，andhadaroundortwowithhim。Lordblessyou，youngman，itwaslikeaflyfightingwithanelephant-oneofthosebigbeaststheshow-folkscarryabout。Ihadnotachancewiththefellow，heknockedmehere，heknockedmethere，knockedmeintothehedge，andknockedmeoutagain。Iwasatmylastshifts，andmypoorwifesawit。Nowmypoorwife，thoughsheisasgentleasapigeon，hasyetaspiritofherown，andthoughshewasn’tbredupontheroads，canscratchalittle；sowhenshesawmeatmylastshifts，sheflewatthevillain-shecouldn’tbeartoseeherpartnermurdered-andscratchedthevillain’sface。Lordblessyou，youngman，shehadbetterhavebeenquiet：GreyMollnosoonersawwhatshewasabout，than，springingoutofthecart，whereshehadsatallalongperfectlyquiet，savealittlewhoopingandscreechingtoencourageherblade：-GreyMoll，Isay(myfleshcreepswhenIthinkofit-forIamakindhusband，andlovemypoorwife)……

MYSELF。Takeanotherdraughtoftheale；youlookfrightened，anditwil