burntcalico。"Iplacedthiscalicoaboveit,andlightednotthehandkerchief,buttherag。NowIwillshowyousomethingelse。Ihaveamagicshillinginmypocket,whichIcanmakerunupalongmyarm。But,firstofall,Iwouldgladlyknowwhethereitherofyoucandothelike。"
ThereupontheHungarianandmyself,puttingourhandsintoourpockets,tookoutshillings,andendeavouredtomakethemrunupourarms,bututterlyfailed;bothshillings,afterwehadmadetwoorthreeattempts,fallingtotheground。"Whatnoncompossesyoubothare,"saidthejockey;andplacingashillingontheendofthefingersofhisrighthandhemadestrangefacestoit,drawingbackhishead,whereupontheshillinginstantlybegantorunuphisarm,occasionallyhoppingandjumpingasifitwerebewitched,alwaysendeavouringtomaketowardstheheadofthejockey。
"HowdoIdothat?"saidhe,addressinghimselftome。"I
reallydonotknow,"saidI,"unlessitisbythemotionofyourarm。""Themotionofmynonsense,"saidthejockey,and,makingadreadfulgrimace,theshillinghoppeduponhisknee,andbegantorunuphisthighandtoclimbuphisbreast。"Howisthatdone?"saidheagain。"Bywitchcraft,Isuppose,"saidI。"Thereyouareright,"saidthejockey;
"bythewitchcraftofoneofMissBerners’hairs;theendofoneofherlonghairsistiedtothatshillingbymeansofaholeinit,andtheotherendgoesroundmyneckbymeansofaloop;sothat,whenIdrawbackmyhead,theshillingfollowsit。IsupposeyouwishtoknowhowIgotthehair,"
saidhe,grinningatme。"Iwilltellyou。Ionce,inthecourseofmyridings,sawMissBernersbeneathahedge,combingoutherlonghair,and,beingratheramodestkindofperson,whatmustIdobutgetoffmyhorse,tiehimtoagate,gouptoher,andendeavourtoenterintoconversationwithher。Aftergivinghertheseleoftheday,andcomplimentingheronherhair,Iaskedhertogivemeoneofthethreads;whereuponshegavemesuchalook,and,callingmefellow,toldmetotakemyselfoff。’Imusthaveahairfirst,’saidI,makingasnatchatone。IbelieveIhurther;but,whetherIdidornot,upshestarted,and,thoughherhairwasunbound,gavemetheonlydrubbingIeverhadinmylife。Lor!how,withherrighthand,shefibbedmewhilstsheheldmeroundtheneckwithherleftarm;Iwassoongladtobegherpardononmyknees,whichshegavemeinamoment,whenshesawmeinthatcondition,beingthemostplacablecreatureintheworld,andnotonlyherpardon,butoneofthehairswhichIlongedfor,whichIputthroughashilling,withwhichIhaveoneveningsafterfairs,likethis,frequentlyworkedwhatseemedtothosewholookedondownrightwitchcraft,butwhichisnothingmorethanpleasantdeception。Andnow,Mr。RomanyRye,totestifymyregardforyou,Igiveyoutheshillingandthehair。IthinkyouhaveakindofrespectforMissBerners;butwhetheryouhaveornot,keepthemaslongasyoucan,andwheneveryoulookatthemthinkofthefinestwomaninEngland,andofJohnDale,thejockeyofHorncastle。IbelieveIhavetoldyoumyhistory,"saidhe—"no,notquite;thereisonecircumstanceIhadpassedover。ItoldyouthatIhavethrivenverywellinbusiness,andsoIhave,uponthewhole;atanyrate,I
findmyselfcomfortablyoffnow。Ihavehorses,money,andowenobodyagroat;atanyrate,nothingbutwhatIcouldpayto—morrow。YetIhavehadmydrearyday,ay,afterIhadobtainedwhatIcallastationintheworld。Allofasudden,aboutfiveyearsago,everythingseemedtogowrongwithme—horsesbecamesickordied,peoplewhoowedmemoneybrokeorranaway,myhousecaughtfire,infact,everythingwentagainstme;andnotfromanymismanagementofmyown。Ilookedroundforhelp,but—whatdoyouthink?—
nobodywouldhelpme。SomehoworotherithadgotabroadthatIwasindifficulties,andeverybodyseemeddisposedtoavoidme,asifIhadgottheplague。ThosewhowerealwaysofferingmehelpwhenIwantednone,now,whentheythoughtmeintrouble,talkedofarrestingme。Yes;twoparticularfriendsofmine,whohadalwaysbeenofferingmetheirpurseswhenmyownwasstuffedfull,nowtalkedofarrestingme,thoughIonlyowedthescoundrelsahundredpoundseach;andtheywouldhavedoneso,providedIhadnotpaidthemwhatI
owedthem;andhowdidIdothat?Why,IwasabletodoitbecauseIfoundafriend—andwhowasthatfriend?Why,amanwhohassincebeenhung,ofwhomeverybodyhasheard,andofwhomeverybodyforthenexthundredyearswilloccasionallytalk。
"Oneday,whilstintrouble,IwasvisitedbyapersonIhadoccasionallymetatsporting—dinners。HecametolookafteraSuffolkPunch,thebesthorse,bythebye,thatanybodycanpurchasetodrive,itbeingtheonlyanimalofthehorsekindinEnglandthatwillpulltwiceatadeadweight。ItoldhimthatIhadnoneatthattimethatIcouldrecommend;infact,thateveryhorseinmystablewassick。Hetheninvitedmetodinewithhimataninncloseby,andIwasgladtogowithhim,inthehopeofgettingridofunpleasantthoughts。
Afterdinner,duringwhichhetalkednothingbutslang,observingIlookedverymelancholy,heaskedmewhatwasthematterwithme,andI,myheartbeingopenedbythewinehehadmademedrink,toldhimmycircumstanceswithoutreserve。
Withanoathortwofornothavingtreatedhimatfirstlikeafriend,hesaidhewouldsoonsetmeallright;andpullingouttwohundredpounds,toldmetopayhimwhenIcould。I
feltasIneverfeltbefore;however,Itookhisnotes,paidmysneaks,andinlessthanthreemonthswasrightagain,andhadreturnedhimhismoney。Onpayingittohim,IsaidthatIhadnowalunchwhichwouldjustsuithim,sayingthatI
wouldgiveittohim—afreegift—fornothing。Hesworeatme;—tellingmetokeepmyPunch,forthathewassuitedalready。IbeggedhimtotellmehowIcouldrequitehimforhiskindness,whereupon,withthemostdreadfuloathIeverheard,hebademecomeandseehimhangedwhenhistimewascome。Iwrunghishand,andtoldhimIwould,andIkeptmyword。ThenightbeforethedayhewashangedatH—,I
harnessedaSuffolkPunchtomylightgig,thesamePunchwhichIhadofferedtohim,whichIhaveeversincekept,andwhichbroughtmeandthisshortyoungmantoHorncastle,andinelevenhoursIdrovethatPunchonehundredandtenmiles。
IarrivedatH—justinthenickoftime。Therewastheuglyjail—thescaffold—andthereuponitstoodtheonlyfriendIeverhadintheworld。DrivingmyPunch,whichwasallinafoam,intothemidstofthecrowd,whichmadewayformeasifitknewwhatIcamefor,Istoodupinmygig,tookoffmyhat,andshouted,’GodAlmightyblessyou,Jack!’Thedyingmanturnedhispalegrimfacetowardsme—forhisfacewasalwayssomewhatgrim,doyousee—noddedandsaid,orI
thoughtIheardhimsay,’Allright,oldchap。’Thenextmoment—myeyeswater。Hehadahighheart,gotintoascrapewhilstinthemarines,losthishalf—pay,tooktotheturf,ring,gambling,andatlastcutthethroatofavillainwhohadrobbedhimofnearlyallhehad。Buthehadgoodqualities,andIknowforcertainthatheneverdidhalfthebadthingslaidtohischarge;forexample,heneverbribedTomOlivertofightcross,asitwassaidhedidonthedayoftheawfulthunder—storm。NedFlatnosefairlybeatTomOliver,forthoughNedwasnotwhat’scalledagoodfighter,hehadaparticularblow,whichifhecouldputinhewassuretowin。Hisrightshoulder,doyousee,wastwoinchesfartherbackthanitoughttohavebeen,andconsequentlyhisrightfistgenerallyfellshort;butifhecouldswinghimselfround,andputinablowwiththatrightarm,hecouldkillortakeawaythesensesofanybodyintheworld。
ItwasbyputtinginthatblowinhissecondfightwithSpringthathebeatnobleTom。Springbeathimlikeasackinthefirstbattle,butinthesecondNedPainter—forthatwashisrealname—contrivedtoputinhisblow,andtookthesensesoutofSpring;andinlikemannerhetookthesensesoutofTomOliver。
"Well,someareborntobehanged,andsomearenot;andmanyofthosewhoarenothangedaremuchworsethanthosewhoare。Jack,withmanyagoodquality,ishanged,whilstthatfellowofalord,whowantedtogetthehorsefromyouatabouttwo—thirdsofhisvalue,withoutasinglegoodqualityintheworld,isnothanged,andprobablywillremainso。
Youaskthereasonwhy,perhaps。I’lltellyou;thelackofacertainqualitycalledcourage,whichJackpossessedinabundance,willpreservehim;fromthelovewhichhebearshisownneckhewilldonothingwhichcanbringhimtothegallows。InmyroughwayI’lldrawtheircharactersfromtheirchildhood,andthenaskwhetherJackwasnotthebestcharacterofthetwo。Jackwasarough,audaciousboy,fondoffighting,goingabirds’—nesting,butIneverheardhedidanythingparticularlycruelsaveonce,Ibelieve,tyingacanistertoabutcher’sdog’stail;whilstthisfellowofalordwasbynatureasavagebeast,andwhenaboywouldinwinterpluckpoorfowlsnaked,andsetthemrunningontheiceandinthesnow,andwasparticularlyfondofburningcatsaliveinthefire。Jack,whenalad,getsacommissiononboardashipasanofficerofhorsemarines,andintwoorthreeengagementsbehavesquiteuptothemark—atleastofamarine;themarineshavingnoparticularcharacterforcourage,youknow—neverhavingruntothegunsandfiredthemlikemadmenafterthebluejacketshadhadmorethanenough。Oh,dearme,no!MylordgetsintothevalorousBritisharmy,wherecowardice—Oh,dearme!—isathingalmostentirelyunknown;andbeingonthefieldofWaterloothedaybeforethebattle,fallsoffhishorse,and,pretendingtobehurtintheback,getshimselfputonthesicklist—aprettyexcuse—hurtinghisback—fornotbeingpresentatsuchafight。OldBenbow,afterpartofbothhislegshadbeenshotawayinasea—fight,madethecarpentermakehimacradletoholdhisbloodystumps,andcontinuedondeck,cheeringhismentillhedied。Jackreturnshome,andgetsintotrouble,andhavingnothingtosubsistbybuthiswits,getshislivingbytheringandtheturf,doingmanyanoddkindofthing,Idaresay,butnothalfthoselaidtohischarge。MylorddoesmuchthesamewithouttheexcusefordoingsowhichJackhad,forhehadplentyofmeans,isaleg,andablack,onlyinamorepolishedway,andwithmorecunning,andImaysaysuccess,havingdonemanyarascallythingneverlaidtohischarge。
Jackatlastcutsthethroatofavillainwhohadcheatedhimofallhehadintheworld,andwho,Iamtold,wasinmanypointsthecounterpartofthisscrewandwhitefeather,istakenup,tried,andexecuted;andcertainlytakingawayaman’slifeisadreadfulthing;butistherenothingasbad?
Whitefeatherwillcutnoperson’sthroat—Iwillnotsaywhohascheatedhim,for,beingacheathimself,hewilltakegoodcarethatnobodycheatshim,buthe’lldosomethingquiteasbad;outofenvytoapersonwhoneverinjuredhim,andwhomhehatesforbeingmorecleverandrespectedthanhimself,hewilldoallhepossiblycan,bybackbitingandeveryunfairmeans,todothatpersonamortalinjury。ButJackishanged,andmylorditnot。Isthatright?Mywife,MaryFulcher—Ibegherpardon,MaryDale—whoisaMethodist,andhasheardthemightypreacher,PeterWilliams,sayssomepeoplearepreservedfromhangingbythegraceofGod。WithherIdiffers,andsaysitisfromwantofcourage。ThisWhitefeather,withoneparticleofJack’scourage,andwithonetitheofhisgoodqualities,wouldhavebeenhangedlongago,forhehastentimesJack’smalignity。
Jackwashangedbecause,alongwithhisbadqualities,hehadcourageandgenerosity;thisfellowisnot,becausewithallJack’sbadqualities,andmanymore,amongstwhichiscunning,hehasneithercouragenorgenerosity。Thinkofafellowlikethatputtingdowntwohundredpoundstorelieveadistressedfellow—creature;whyhewouldrob,butforthelawandthefearitfillshimwith,aworkhousechildofitsbreakfast,asthesayingis—andhasbeenheardtosaythathewouldnottrusthisownfatherforsixpence,andhecan’timaginewhysuchathingascreditshouldbeevergiven。I
neverheardapersongivehimagoodword—stay,stay,yes!
Ionceheardanoldparson,towhomIsoldaPunch,saythathehadtheartofreceivingcompanygracefullyanddismissingthemwithoutrefreshment。Idon’twishtobetoohardwithhim,andsolethimmakethemostofthatcompliment。Well!
hemanagestogeton,whilstJackishanged;notquiteenviably,however;hehashadhisrubs,andprettyhardones—everybodyknowsheslunkfromWaterloo,andoccasionallycheckshimwithsodoing;whilsthehasbeenrejectedbyawoman—whatamortificationtothelowprideofwhichthescoundrelhasplenty!There’sasongaboutbothcircumstances,whichmay,perhaps,ringinhisearsonadyingbed。It’safunnykindofsong,settotheoldtuneoftheLord—LieutenantorDeputy,andwithitIwillconcludemydiscourse,forIreallythinkit’spastone。"Thejockeythen,withaverytolerablevoice,sungthefollowingsong:—
THEJOCKEY’SSONG。
Nowlisttoadittybothfunnyandtrue!—
Merrilymovesthedancealong—
Adittythattellsofacowardandscrew,MyLord—Lieutenantsofreeandyoung。
SirPlume,thoughnotlikingabulletatall,—
Merrilymovesthedancealong—
HadyetresolutiontogotoaBALL,MyLord—Lieutenantsofreeandyoung。
"Woulezwousdanser,mademoiselle?"—
Merrilymovesthedancealong;—
Saidshe,"Sir,todanceIshouldlikeverywell,"
MyLord—Lieutenantsofreeandyoung。
Theydanc’dtotheleft,andtheydanc’dtotheright,—
Merrilymovesthedancealong;—
Andhertroththefairdamselbestow’dontheknight,MyLord—Lieutenantsofreeandyoung。
"NowwhatshallIfetchyou,mademoiselle?"—
Merrilymovesthedancealong;—
Saidshe,"Sir,aniceIshouldlikeverywell,"
MyLord—Lieutenantsofreeandyoung。
Buttheice,whenhe’dgotit,heinstantlyate,—
Merrilymovesthedancealong;—
Althoughhispoorpartnerwasallinafret,MyLord—Lieutenantsofreeandyoung。
Heateuptheicelikeaprudentyounglord,—
Merrilymovesthedancealong;—
Forhesaw’twastheverylasticeontheboard,—
MyLord—Lieutenantsofreeandyoung。
"Now,whenshallwemarry?"thegentlemancried;—
Merrilymovesthedancealong;—
"Sir,getyoutoJordan,"thedamselreplied,MyLord—Lieutenantsofreeandyoung。
"Ineverwillwedwiththepitifulelf"—
Merrilymovesthedancealong—
"WhoateuptheicewhichIwantedmyself,"
MyLord—Lieutenantsofreeandyoung。
"I’dpardonyourbackingfromredWaterloo,"—
Merrilymovesthedancealong—
"ButIneverwillwedwithacowardandscrew,"
MyLord—Lieutenantsofreeandyoung。
CHAPTERXLIII
TheChurch。
THEnextmorningIbegantothinkofdeparting;IhadsewedupthemoneywhichIhadreceivedforthehorseinaportionofmyclothing,whereIentertainednofearsforitssafety,withtheexceptionofasmallsuminnotes,gold,andsilver,whichIcarriedinmypocket。Eredeparting,however,I
determinedtostrollaboutandexaminethetown,andobservemoreparticularlythehumoursofthefairthanIhadhithertoanopportunityofdoing。Thetown,whenIexaminedit,offerednoobjectworthyofattentionbutitschurch—anedificeofsomeantiquity;undertheguidanceofanoldman,whoofficiatedassexton,Iinspecteditsinteriorattentively,occasionallyconversingwithmyguide,who,however,seemedmuchmoredisposedtotalkabouthorsesthanthechurch。"Nogoodhorsesinthefairthistime,measter,"
saidhe;"nonebutonebroughthitherbyachapwhomnobodyknows,andboughtbyaforeigneeringman,whocameherewithJackDale。Thehorsefetchedagoodswingingprice,whichissaid,however,tobemuchlessthanitsworth;forthehorseisaregularclipper;notsuchaone,’tissaid,hasbeenseeninthefairforseveralsummers。LordWhitefeathersaysthathebelievesthefellowwhobroughthimtobeahighwayman,andtalksofhavinghimtakenup,butLordWhitefeatherisonlyinaragebecausehecouldnotgethimforhimself。Thechapwouldnotsellittoun;LordScrewwantedtobeathimdown,andthechaptookhuff,saidhewouldn’tsellittohimatnoprice,andacceptedtheofferoftheforeigneeringman,orofJack,whowashis’terpreter,andwhoscornedtohiggleaboutsuchahanimal,becauseJackisagentleman,thoughbredadickey—boy,whilstt’other,thoughbredalord,isascrewandawhitefeather。Everyonesaysthecovewasright,andIsayssotoo;Ilikesspirit,andifthecovewerehere,andinyourplace,measter,I
wouldinvitehimtodrinkapintofbeer。Goodhorsesarescarcenow,measter,ay,andsoaregoodmen,quiteadifferentsetfromwhattherewerewhenIwasyoung;thatwasthetimeformenandhorses。Lordblessyou,Iknowallthebreedersabouthere;theyarenotabadset,andtheybreedaveryfairishsetofhorses,buttheyarenotlikewhattheirfatherswere,noraretheirhorsesliketheirfathers’
horses。NowthereisMr。—thegreatbreeder,averyfairishman,withveryfairishhorses;but,Lordblessyou,he’snothingtowhathisfatherwas,norhissteedstohisfather’s;Ioughttoknow,forIwasattheschoolherewithhisfather,andafterwardsformanyayearhelpedhimtogetuphishorses;thatwaswhenIwasyoung,measter—thosewerethedays。Youlookatthatmonument,measter,"saidhe,asIstoppedandlookedattentivelyatamonumentonthesouthernsideofthechurchnearthealtar;"thatwasputupforarectorofthischurch,wholivedalongtimeago,inOliver’stime,andwasill—treatedandimprisonedbyOliverandhismen;youwillseeallaboutitonthemonument。
Therewasagrandbattlefoughtnighthisplace,betweenOliver’smenandtheRoyalparty,andtheRoyalpartyhadtheworstofit,asI’mtoldtheygenerallyhad;andOliver’smencameintothetown,anddidagreatdealofdamage,andilltreatedthepeople。Ican’trememberanythingaboutthemattermyself,forithappenedjustonehundredyearsbeforeIwasborn,butmyfatherwasacquaintedwithanoldcountryman,wholivednotmanymilesfromhere,whosaidherememberedperfectlywellthedayofthebattle;thathewasaboyatthetime,andwasworkinginafieldneartheplacewherethebattlewasfought;andheardshouting,andnoiseoffirearms,andalsothesoundofseveralballs,whichfellinthefieldnearhim。Comethisway,measter,andIwillshowyousomeremainsofthatday’sfield。"Leavingthemonument,onwhichwasinscribedanaccountofthelifeandsufferingsoftheRoyalistRectorofHorncastle,Ifollowedthesextontothewesternendofthechurch,where,hangingagainstthewall,wereanumberofscythesstuckintheendsofpoles。
"Thosearetheweapons,measter,"saidthesexton,"whichthegreatpeopleputintothehandsofthecountryfolks,inorderthattheymightusethemagainstOliver’smen;uglyweaponsenough;however,Oliver’smenwon,andSirJacobAshleyandhispartywerebeat。AndararetimeOliverandhismenhadofit,tillOliverdied,whentheotherpartygotthebetter,notbyfighting,’tissaid,butthroughaGeneralMonk,whoturnedsides。Ah,theoldfellowthatmyfatherknew,saidhewellrememberedthetimewhenGeneralMonkwentoverandproclaimedCharlestheSecond。Bonfireswerelightedeverywhere,oxenroasted,andbeerdrunkbypailfuls;
thecountryfolksweredrunkwithjoy,andsomethingelse;
sungscurvysongsaboutOlivertothetuneofBarneyBanks,andpeltedhismen,wherevertheyfoundthem,withstonesanddirt。""Themoreungratefulscoundrelsthey,"saidI。
"OliverandhismenfoughtthebattleofEnglishindependenceagainstawretchedkingandcorruptlords。HadIbeenlivingatthetime,IshouldhavebeenproudtobeatrooperofOliver。""Youwould,measter,wouldyou?Well,Ineverquarrelswiththeopinionsofpeoplewhocometolookatthechurch,andcertainlyindependenceisafinething。Iliketoseeachapofanindependentspirit,andifIwerenowtoseethecovethatrefusedtosellhishorsetomyLordScrewandWhitefeather,andletJackDalehavehim,Iwouldoffertotreathimtoapintofbeer—e’es,Iwould,verily。
Well,measter,youhavenowseenthechurch,andallthere’sinitworthseeing—soI’lljustlockup,andgoandfinishdiggingthegraveIwasaboutwhenyoucame,afterwhichI
mustgointothefairtoseehowmattersaregoingon。Thankye,measter,"saidhe,asIputsomethingintohishand;
"thankyekindly;’tisnoteveryonewhogivesmeashillingnow—a—dayswhocomestoseethechurch,buttimesareverydifferentfromwhattheywerewhenIwasyoung;Iwasnotsextonthen,butsomethingbetter;helpedMr。—withhishorses,andgotmanyabroadcrown。Thosewerethedays,measter,bothformenandhorses—andIsay,measter,ifmenandhorsesweresomuchbetterwhenIwasyoungthantheyarenow,what,Iwonder,musttheyhavebeeninthetimeofOliverandhismen?"
CHAPTERXLIV
AnOldAcquaintance。
LEAVINGthechurch,Istrolledthroughthefair,lookingatthehorses,listeningtothechafferingofthebuyersandsellers,andoccasionallyputtinginawordofmyown,whichwasnotalwaysreceivedwithmuchdeference;suddenly,however,onawhisperarisingthatIwastheyoungcovewhohadbroughtthewonderfulhorsetothefairwhichJackDalehadboughtfortheforeigneeringman,Ifoundmyselfanobjectofthegreatestattention;thosewhohadbeforerepliedwithstuff!andnonsense!towhatIsaid,nowlistenedwiththegreatesteagernesstoanynonsenseIwishedtoutter,andIdidnotfailtoutteragreatdeal;
presently,however,becomingdisgustedwiththebeingsaboutme,Iforcedmyway,notverycivilly,throughmycrowdofadmirers;andpassingthroughanalleyandabackstreet,atlastreachedanoutskirtofthefair,wherenopersonappearedtoknowme。HereIstood,lookingvacantlyonwhatwasgoingon,musingonthestrangeinfatuationofmyspecies,whojudgeofaperson’swords,notfromtheirintrinsicmerit,butfromtheopinion—generallyanerroneousone—whichtheyhaveformedoftheperson。FromthisreverieIwasrousedbycertainwordswhichsoundednearme,utteredinastrangetone,andinastrangecadence—thewordswere,"themthatfinds,wins;andthemthatcan’tfind,loses。"Turningmyeyesinthedirectionfromwhichthewordsproceeded,Isawsixorsevenpeople,apparentlyallcountrymen,gatheredroundapersonstandingbehindatallwhitetableofverysmallcompass。"What!"saidI,"thethimble—engroof—FairhereatHorncastle。"Advancingnearer,however,Iperceivedthatthoughthepresentpersonwasathimble—engro,hewasaverydifferentonefrommyoldacquaintanceof—Fair。Thepresentonewasafellowabouthalf—a—foottallerthantheother。Hehadalong,haggard,wildface,andwasdressedinakindofjacket,somethinglikethatofasoldier,withdirtyhempentrousers,andwithaforeign—lookingpeakedhatonhishead。HespokewithanaccentevidentlyIrish,andoccasionallychangedtheusualthimbleformule,"themthatfindswins,andthemthatcan’t—
och,sure!—theyloses;"sayingalsofrequently,"yourhonour,"insteadof"mylord。"Iobserved,ondrawingnearer,thathehandledthepeaandthimblewithsomeawkwardness,likethatwhichmightbeexpectedfromanoviceinthetrade。Hecontrived,however,towinseveralshillings,forhedidnotseemtoplayforgold,from"theirhonours。"Awkward,ashewas,heevidentlydidhisbest,andneverflungachanceawaybypermittinganyonetowin。Hehadjustwonthreeshillingsfromafarmer,who,incensedathisloss,wascallinghimaconfoundedcheat,andsayingthathewouldplaynomore,whenupcamemyfriendoftheprecedingday,Jack,thejockey。Thisworthy,afterlookingatthethimble—manamomentortwo,withapeculiarlycraftyglance,criedout,asheclappeddownashillingonthetable,"Iwillstandyou,oldfellow!""Themthatfindswins;andthemthatcan’t—och,sure!—theyloses,"saidthethimble—man。Thegamecommenced,andJacktookupthethimblewithoutfindingthepea;anothershillingwasproduced,andlostinthesamemanner;"thisisslowwork,"
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