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Barnaby and his mother walked on； on either side of the
gentleman on horseback； who surveyed each of them from time to
time in a proud and coarse manner； and occasionally thundered
out some question； the tone of which alarmed Barnaby so much
that he could find no answer； and； as a matter of course； could
make him no reply。 On one of these occasions； when the
gentleman appeared disposed to exercise his horsewhip； the
widow ventured to inform him in a low voice and with tears in her
eyes； that her son was of weak mind。
‘An idiot； eh？’ said the gentleman； looking at Barnaby as he
spoke。 ‘And how long hast thou been an idiot？’
‘She knows；’ was Barnaby’s timid answer； pointing to his
mother—‘I—always； I believe。’
‘From his birth；’ said the widow。
‘I don’t believe it；’ cried the gentleman； ‘not a bit of it。 It’s an
excuse not to work。 There’s nothing like flogging to cure that
disorder。 I’d make a difference in him in ten minutes； I’ll be
bound。’
‘Heaven has made none in more than twice ten years； sir；’ said
the widow mildly。
‘Then why don’t you shut him up？ we pay enough for county
institutions； damn ’em。 But thou’d rather drag him about to excite
charity—of course。 Ay； I know thee。’
Now； this gentleman had various endearing appellations among
his intimate friends。 By some he was called ‘a country gentleman
of the true school；’ by some ‘a fine old country gentleman；’ by
some ‘a sporting gentleman；’ by some ‘a thorough…bred
Englishman；’ by some ‘a genuine John Bull；’ but they all agreed in
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one respect； and that was； that it was a pity there were not more
like him； and that because there were not； the country was going
to rack and ruin every day。 He was in the commission of the peace；
and could write his name almost legibly； but his greatest
qualifications were； that he was more severe with poachers； was a
better shot； a harder rider； had better horses； kept better dogs；
could eat more solid food； drink more strong wine； go to bed every
night more drunk and get up every morning more sober； than any
man in the county。 In knowledge of horseflesh he was almost
equal to a farrier； in stable learning he surpassed his own head
groom； and in gluttony not a pig on his estate was a match for him。
He had no seat in Parliament himself； but he was extremely
patriotic； and usually drove his voters up to the poll with his own
hands。 He was warmly attached to church and state； and never
appointed to the living in his gift any but a three…bottle man and a
first…rate fox…hunter。 He mistrusted the honesty of all poor people
who could read and write； and had a secret jealousy of his own
wife （a young lady whom he had married for what his friends
called ‘the good old English reason；’ that her father’s property
adjoined his own） for possessing those accomplishments in a
greater degree than himself。 In short； Barnaby being an idiot； and
Grip a creature of mere brute instinct； it would be very hard to say
what this gentleman was。
He rode up to the door of a handsome house approached by a
great flight of steps； where a man was waiting to take his horse；
and led the way into a large hall； which； spacious as it was； was
tainted with the fumes of last night’s stale debauch。 Greatcoats；
riding…whips； bridles； top…boots； spurs； and such gear； were strewn
about on all sides； and formed； with some huge stags’ antlers； and
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a few portraits of dogs and horses； its principal embellishments。
Throwing himself into a great chair （in which； by the bye； he
often snored away the night； when he had been； according to his
admirers； a finer country gentleman than usual） he bade the man
to tell his mistress to come down： and presently there appeared； a
little flurried； as it seemed； by the unwonted summons； a lady
much younger than himself； who had the appearance of being in
delicate health； and not too happy。
‘Here！ Thou’st no delight in following the hounds as an
Englishwoman should have；’ said the gentleman。 ‘See to this here。
That’ll please thee perhaps。’
The lady smiled； sat down at a little distance from him； and
glanced at Barnaby with a look of pity。
‘He’s an idiot； the woman says；’ observed the gentleman；
shaking his head； ‘I don’t believe it。’
‘Are you his mother？’ asked the lady。
She answered yes。
‘What’s the use of asking her？’ said the gentleman； thrusting his
hands into his breeches pockets。 ‘She’ll tell thee so； of course。
Most likely he’s hired； at so much a day。 There。 Get on。 Make him
do something。’
Grip having by this time recovered his urbanity； condescended；
at Barnaby’s solicitation； to repeat his various phrases of speech；
and to go through the whole of his performances with the utmost
success。 The corks； and the never say die； afforded the gentleman
so much delight that he demanded the repetition of this part of the
entertainment； until Grip got into his basket； and positively
refused to say another word； good or bad。 The lady too； was much
amused with him； and the closing point of his obstinacy so
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delighted her husband that he burst into a roar of laughter； and
demanded his price。
Barnaby looked as though he didn’t understand his meaning。
Probably he did not。
‘His price；’ said the gentleman； rattling the money in his
pockets； ‘what dost want for him？ How much？’
‘He’s not to be sold；’ replied Barnab