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'Jenny；' said the landlord； with the same gravity as before； 'go
with the young gentleman to the pump in the back kitchen； and take
a clean towel along with you。'
Thereupon the rosy…faced clean…looking damsel went to a drawer； and
producing a large； thick； but snowy white towel； she nodded to me
to follow her； whereupon I followed Jenny through a long passage
into the back kitchen。
And at the end of the back kitchen there stood a pump； and going to
it I placed my hands beneath the spout； and said； 'Pump； Jenny'；
and Jenny incontinently； without laying down the towel； pumped with
one hand； and I washed and cooled my heated hands。
And； when my hands were washed and cooled； I took off my neckcloth；
and； unbuttoning my shirt collar； I placed my head beneath the
spout of the pump； and I said unto Jenny； 'Now； Jenny； lay down the
towel； and pump for your life。'
Thereupon Jenny； placing the towel on a linen…horse； took the
handle of the pump with both hands and pumped over my head as
handmaid had never pumped before； so that the water poured in
torrents from my head； my face； and my hair down upon the brick
floor。
And； after the lapse of somewhat more than a minute； I called out
with a half…strangled voice； 'Hold； Jenny！' and Jenny desisted。 I
stood for a few moments to recover my breath； then taking the towel
which Jenny proffered； I dried composedly my hands and head； my
face and hair； then； returning the towel to Jenny； I gave a deep
sigh and said； 'Surely this is one of the pleasant moments of
life。'
Then； having set my dress to rights； and combed my hair with a
pocket comb； I followed Jenny； who conducted me back through the
long passage； and showed me into a neat sanded parlour on the
ground…floor。
I sat down by a window which looked out upon the dusty street；
presently in came the handmaid； and commenced laying the table…
cloth。 'Shall I spread the table for one； sir；' said she； 'or do
you expect anybody to dine with you？' 'I can't say that I expect
anybody；' said I； laughing inwardly to myself； 'however； if you
please you can lay for two； so that if any acquaintance of mine
should chance to step in； he may find a knife and fork ready for
him。'
So I sat by the window； sometimes looking out upon the dusty
street； and now glancing at certain old…fashioned prints which
adorned the wall over against me。 I fell into a kind of doze； from
which I was almost instantly awakened by the opening of the door。
Dinner； thought I； and I sat upright in my chair。 No； a man of the
middle age； and rather above the middle height； dressed in a plain
suit of black； made his appearance； and sat down in a chair at some
distance from me； but near to the table； and appeared to be lost in
thought。
'The weather is very warm； sir；' said I。
'Very；' said the stranger； laconically； looking at me for the first
time。
'Would you like to see the newspaper？' said I； taking up one which
lay upon the window seat。
'I never read newspapers；' said the stranger； 'nor； indeed； … '
Whatever it might be that he had intended to say he left
unfinished。 Suddenly he walked to the mantelpiece at the farther
end of the room； before which he placed himself with his back
towards me。 There he remained motionless for some time； at length；
raising his hand； he touched the corner of the mantelpiece with his
finger； advanced towards the chair which he had left； and again
seated himself。
'Have you come far？' said he； suddenly looking towards me； and
speaking in a frank and open manner； which denoted a wish to enter
into conversation。 'You do not seem to be of this place。'
'I come from some distance；' said I； 'indeed； I am walking for
exercise； which I find as necessary to the mind as the body。 I
believe that by exercise people would escape much mental misery。'
Scarcely had I uttered these words when the stranger laid his hand；
with seeming carelessness； upon the table； near one of the glasses；
after a moment or two he touched the glass with his finger as if
inadvertently； then； glancing furtively at me； he withdrew his hand
and looked towards the window。
'Are you from these parts？' said I at last； with apparent
carelessness。
'From this vicinity；' replied the stranger。 'You think； then； that
it is as easy to walk off the bad humours of the mind as of the
body？'
'I； at least； am walking in that hope；' said I。
'I wish you may be successful；' said the stranger； and here he
touched one of the forks which lay on the table near him。
Here the door； which was slightly ajar； was suddenly pushed open
with some fracas； and in came the stout landlord； supporting with
some difficulty an immense dish； in which was a mighty round mass
of smoking meat garnished all round with vegetables； so high was
the mass that it probably obstructed his view； for it was not until
he had placed it upon the table that he appeared to observe the
stranger； he almost started； and quite out of breath exclaimed；
'God bless me； your honour； is your honour the acquaintance that
the young gentleman was expecting？'
'Is the young gentleman expecting an acquaintance？' said the
stranger。
There is nothing like putting a good face upon these matters；
thought I to myself； and； getting up； I bowed to the unknown。
'Sir；' said I； 'when I told Jenny that she might lay the table…
cloth for two； so that in the event of any acquaintance dropping in
he might find a knife and fork ready for him； I was merely jocular；
being an entire stranger in these parts； and expecting no one。
Fortune； however； it would seem； has been unexpectedly kind to me；
I flatter myself； sir； that since you have been in this room I have
had the honour of making your acquaintance； and in the strength of
that hope I humbly entreat you to honour me with your company to
dinner； provided you have not already dined。'
The stranger laughed outright。
'Sir；' I continued； 'the round of beef is a noble one； and seems
exceedingly well boiled； and the landlord was just right when he
said I should have such a dinner as is not seen every day。 A round
of beef； at any rate such a round of beef as this； is seldom seen
smoking upon the table in these degenerate times。 Allow me； sir；'
said I； observing that the stranger was about to speak； 'allow me
another remark。 I think I saw you just now touch the fork； I
venture to hail it as an omen that you will presently seize it； and
apply it to its proper purpose； and its companion the knife also。'
The stranger changed colour； and gazed upon me in silence。
'Do； sir；' here put in the landlord； 'do； sir； accept the young
gentleman's invitation。 Your honour has of late been looking
poorly； and the young gentleman is a funny young gentleman； and a
clever young gentleman； and I think it will do your h