’Thenyouwon’tfight？’saidI。
　　’NotforthePope，’saidtheRadical；’I’llseethePope-’
　　’Dearme!’saidI，’notfightforthePope，whosereligionyouwouldturnto，ifyouwereinclinedforany。Iseehowitis，youarenotfondoffighting；butI’llgiveyouanotherchance-youwereabusingtheChurchofEnglandjustnow：I’llfightforit-
　　willyoufightagainstit？’
　　’Come，Hunter，’saidtheother，’getup，andfightagainsttheChurchofEngland。’
　　’IhavenoparticularquarrelagainsttheChurchofEngland，’saidthemaninthesnuff-colouredcoat，’myquarreliswiththearistocracy。IfIsaidanythingagainsttheChurch，itwasmerelyforabitofcorollary，asMasterWilliamCobbettwouldsay；thequarrelwiththeChurchbelongstothisfellowinblack，solethimcarryiton。However，’hecontinuedsuddenly，’Iwon’tslinkfromthemattereither；itshallneverbesaidbythefinefellowsonthequayofNewYorkthatIwouldn’tfightagainsttheChurchofEngland。Sodownwiththebeggarlyaristocracy，theChurch，andthePopetothebottomofthepitofEldon，andmaythePopefallfirst，andtheothersuponhim。’
　　Thereupon，dashinghishatonthetable，heplacedhimselfinanattitudeofoffenceandrushedforward。Hewas，asIhavesaidbefore，apowerfulfellow，andmighthaveprovedadangerousantagonist，moreespeciallytomyself，who，aftermyrecentencounterwiththeFlamingTinman，andmywrestlingswiththeevilone，wasinanythingbutfightingorder。Anycollision，however，waspreventedbythelandlord，who，suddenlyappearing，thrusthimselfbetweenus。’Thereshallbenofightinghere，’saidhe；
　　’nooneshallfightinthishouse，exceptitbewithmyself；soifyoutwohaveanythingtosaytoeachother，youhadbettergointothefieldbehindthehouse。But，youfool，’saidhe，pushingHunterviolentlyonthebreast，’doyouknowwhomyouaregoingtotacklewith？-thisistheyoungchapthatbeatBlazingBosville，onlyaslateasyesterday，inMumpers’Dingle。GreyMolltoldmeallaboutitlastnight，whenshecameforsomebrandyforherhusband，who，shesaid，hadbeenhalfkilled；andshedescribedtheyoungmantomesocloselythatIknewhimatonce，thatis，assoonasIsawhowhislefthandwasbruised，forshetoldmehewasaleft-handhitter。Aren’titalltrue，youngman？Aren’tyouhethatbeatFlamingBosville，inMumpers’Dingle？’’IneverbeatFlamingBosville，’saidI，’hebeathimself。Hadhenotstruckhishandagainstatree，Ishouldn’tbehereatthepresentmoment。’
　　’Hear，hear!’saidthelandlord，’nowthat’sjustasitshouldbe；
　　Ilikeamodestman，for，astheparsonsays，nothingsitsbetteruponayoungmanthanmodesty。Iremember，whenIwasyoung，fightingwithTomofHopton，thebestmanthateverpulledoffcoatinEngland。Iremember，too，thatIwonthebattle；forIhappenedtohitTomofHoptoninthemark，ashewascomingin，sothathelosthiswind，andfallingsquelchontheground，doyesee，helostthebattle，thoughIamfreetoconfessthathewasabettermanthanmyself；indeed，thebestmanthateverfoughtinEngland；
　　yetstill，Iwonthebattle，aseverycustomerofmine，andeverybodywithintwelvemilesround，hasheardoverandoveragain。
　　Now，Mr。Hunter，Ihaveonethingtosay，ifyouchoosetogointothefieldbehindthehouse，andfighttheyoungman，youcan。I’llbackhimfortenpounds；butnofightinginmykitchen-becausewhy？Ikeepsadecentkindofanestablishment。’
　　’Ihavenowishtofighttheyoungman，’saidHunter；’moreespeciallyashehasnothingtosayforthearistocracy。Ifhechosetofightforthem，indeed-buthewon’t，Iknow；forIseehe’sadecent，respectableyoungman；and，afterall，fightingisablackguardwayofsettlingadispute；soIhavenowishtofight；
　　however，thereisonethingI’lldo，’saidhe，upliftinghisfist，’I’llfightthisfellowinblackhereforhalfacrown，orfornothing，ifhepleases；itwashethatgotupthelastdisputebetweenmeandtheyoungman，withhisPopeandhisnonsense；soI
　　willfighthimforanythinghepleases，andperhapstheyoungmanwillbemysecond；whilstyou-’
　　’Come，Doctor，’saidthelandlord，’orwhatsoeveryoube，willyougointothefieldwithHunter？I’llsecondyou，onlyyoumustbackyourself。I’lllayfivepoundsonHunter，ifyouareinclinedtobackyourself；andwillhelpyoutowinitasfar，doyousee，asasecondcan；becausewhy？Ialwayslikestodothefairthing。’
　　’Oh，Ihavenowishtofight，’saidthemaninblack，hastily；
　　’fightingisnotmytrade。IfIhavegivenanyoffence，Ibeganybody’spardon。’
　　’Landlord，’saidI，’whathaveItopay？
　　’Nothingatall，’saidthelandlord；’gladtoseeyou。Thisisthefirsttimethatyouhavebeenatmyhouse，andIneverchargenewcustomers，atleastcustomerssuchasyou，anythingforthefirstdraught。You’llcomeagain，Idaresay；shallalwaysbegladtoseeyou。Iwon’ttakeit，’saidhe，asIputsixpenceonthetable；’I
　　won’ttakeit。’
　　’Yes，youshall，’saidI；’butnotinpaymentforanythingIhavehadmyself：itshallservetopayforajugofaleforthatgentleman，’saidI，pointingtothesimple-lookingindividual；’heissmokingapoorpipe。Idonotmeantosaythatapipeisabadthing；butapipewithoutale，doyousee-’
　　’Bravo!’saidthelandlord，’that’sjusttheconductIlike。’
　　’Bravo!’saidHunter。’IshallbehappytodrinkwiththeyoungmanwheneverImeethimatNewYork，where，doyousee，thingsarebettermanagedthanhere。’
　　’IfIhavegivenoffencetoanybody，’saidthemaninblack，’I
　　repeatthatIaskpardon，-moreespeciallytotheyounggentleman，whowasperfectlyrighttostandupforhisreligion，justasI-
　　notthatIamofanyparticularreligion，nomorethanthishonestgentlemanhere，’bowingtoHunter；’butIhappentoknowsomethingoftheCatholics-severalexcellentfriendsofmineareCatholics-andofasuretytheCatholicreligionisanancientreligion，andawidely-extendedreligion，thoughitcertainlyisnotauniversalreligion，butithasoflatemadeconsiderableprogress，evenamongstthosenationswhohavebeenparticularlyopposedtoit-
　　amongstthePrussiansandtheDutch，forexample，tosaynothingoftheEnglish；andthen，intheEast，amongstthePersians，amongsttheArmenians。’
　　’TheArmenians，’saidI；’ohdearme，theArmenians-’
　　’Haveyouanythingtosayaboutthosepeople，sir？’saidthemaninblack，liftinguphisglasstohismouth。
　　’Ihavenothingfurthertosay，’saidI，’thanthattherootsofAraratareoccasionallyfoundtobedeeperthanthoseofRome。’
　　’There’shalf-a-crownbroke，’saidthelandlord，asthemaninblackletfalltheglass，whichwasbrokentopiecesonthefloor。
　　’Youwillpaymethedamage，friend，beforeyouleavethiskitchen。
　　Iliketoseepeopledrinkfreelyinmykitchen，butnottoofreely，andIhatebreakages；becausewhy？Ikeepsadecentkindofanestablishment。’
　　CHAPTERLXXXIX
　　Thedingle-Givethemale-Notovercomplimentary-America-
　　Manypeople-Washington-Promiscuouscompany-Languageoftheroads-Theoldwomen-Numerals-Themaninblack。
　　THEpublic-housewherethesceneswhichIhaveattemptedtodescribeintheprecedingchapterstookplace，wasatthedistanceofabouttwomilesfromthedingle。ThesunwassinkinginthewestbythetimeIreturnedtothelatterspot。IfoundBelleseatedbyafire，overwhichherkettlewassuspended。Duringmyabsenceshehadpreparedherselfakindoftent，consistingoflargehoopscoveredoverwithtarpaulins，quiteimpenetrabletorain，howeverviolent。’Iamgladyouarereturned，’saidshe，assoonassheperceivedme；’Ibegantobeanxiousaboutyou。Didyoutakemyadvice？’
　　’Yes，’saidI；’Iwenttothepublic-houseanddrankale，asyouadvisedme；itcheered，strengthened，anddroveawaythehorrorfrommymind-Iammuchbeholdentoyou。’
　　’Iknewitwoulddoyougood，’saidBelle；’Irememberedthatwhenthepoorwomeninthegreathousewereafflictedwithhysterics，andfearfulimaginings，thesurgeon，whowasagoodkindman，usedtosay，“Ale，givethemale，andletitbestrong。“’
　　’Hewasnoadvocatefortea，then？’saidI。
　　’Hehadnoobjectiontotea；butheusedtosay，“Everythinginitsseason。“Shallwetakeoursnow？-Ihavewaitedforyou。’
　　’Ihavenoobjection，’saidI；’Ifeelratherheated，andatpresentshouldpreferteatoale-“Everythinginitsseason，“asthesurgeonsaid。’
　　ThereuponBellepreparedtea，and，asweweretakingit，shesaid-
　　’Whatdidyouseeandhearatthepublic-house？’
　　’Really，’saidI，’youappeartohaveyourfullportionofcuriosity；whatmattersittoyouwhatIsawandheardatthepublic-house？’
　　’Itmattersverylittletome，’saidBelle；’Imerelyinquiredofyou，forthesakeofalittleconversation-youweresilent，anditisuncomfortablefortwopeopletosittogetherwithoutopeningtheirlips-atleastIthinkso。’
　　’Oneonlyfeelsuncomfortable，’saidI，’inbeingsilent，whenonehappenstobethinkingoftheindividualwithwhomoneisincompany。Totellyouthetruth，Iwasnotthinkingofmycompanion，butofcertaincompanywithwhomIhadbeenatthepublic-house。’
　　’Really，youngman，’saidBelle，’youarenotovercomplimentary；
　　butwhomaythiswonderfulcompanyhavebeen-someyoung-？’andhereBellestopped。
　　’No，’saidI，’therewasnoyoungperson-ifpersonyouweregoingtosay。Therewasabigportlylandlord，whomIdaresayyouhaveseen；anoisysavageRadical，whowantedatfirsttofastenuponmeaquarrelaboutAmerica，butwhosubsequentlydrewinhishorns；
　　thentherewasastrangefellow，aprowlingpriest，Ibelieve，whomIhavefrequentlyheardof，whoatfirstseemeddisposedtosidewiththeRadicalagainstme，andafterwardswithmeagainsttheRadical。There，youknowmycompany，andwhattookplace。’
　　’Wastherenooneelse？’saidBelle。
　　’Youaremightycurious，’saidI。’No，noneelse，exceptapoorsimplemechanic，andsomecommoncompany，whosoonwentaway。’
　　Bellelookedatmeforamoment，andthenappearedtobelostinthought-’America!’saidshe，musingly-’America!’
　　’WhatofAmerica？’saidI。
　　’Ihaveheardthatitisamightycountry。’
　　’Idaresayitis，’saidI；’IhaveheardmyfathersaythattheAmericansarefirst-ratemarksmen。’
　　’Iheardnothingaboutthat，’saidBelle；’whatIheardwas，thatitisagreatandgoodlyland，wherepeoplecanwalkaboutwithoutjostling，andwheretheindustriouscanalwaysfindbread；Ihavefrequentlythoughtofgoingthither。’
　　’Well，’saidI，’theRadicalinthepublic-housewillperhapsbegladofyourcompanythither；heisasgreatanadmirerofAmericaasyourself，thoughIbelieveondifferentgrounds。’
　　’Ishallgobymyself，’saidBelle，’unless-unlessthatshouldhappenwhichisnotlikely-IamnotfondofRadicalsnomorethanIamofscoffersandmockers。’