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poorly； and the young gentleman is a funny young gentleman； and a
clever young gentleman； and I think it will do your honour good to
have a dinner's chat with the young gentleman。'
'It is not my dinner hour；' said the stranger； 'I dine considerably
later； taking anything now would only discompose me； I shall；
however； be most happy to sit down with the young gentleman； reach
me that paper； and； when the young gentleman has satisfied his
appetite； we may perhaps have a little chat together。'
The landlord handed the stranger the newspaper； and； bowing；
retired with his maid Jenny。 I helped myself to a portion of the
smoking round； and commenced eating with no little appetite。 The
stranger appeared to be soon engrossed with the newspaper。 We
continued thus a considerable time … the one reading and the other
dining。 Chancing suddenly to cast my eyes upon the stranger； I saw
his brow contract； he gave a slight stamp with his foot； and flung
the newspaper to the ground； then stooping down he picked it up；
first moving his forefinger along the floor； seemingly slightly
scratching it with his nail。
'Do you hope； sir；' said I； 'by that ceremony with the finger to
preserve yourself from the evil chance？'
The stranger started； then； after looking at me for some time in
silence； he said； 'Is it possible that you … ？'
'Ay； ay；' said I； helping myself to some more of the round； 'I have
touched myself in my younger days； both for the evil chance and the
good。 Can't say； though； that I ever trusted much in the
ceremony。'
The stranger made no reply； but appeared to be in deep thought；
nothing farther passed between us until I had concluded the dinner；
when I said to him； 'I shall now be most happy； sir； to have the
pleasure of your conversation over a pint of wine。'
The stranger rose； 'No； my young friend；' said he； smiling； 'that
would scarce be fair。 It is my turn now … pray do me the favour to
go home with me； and accept what hospitality my poor roof can
offer； to tell you the truth； I wish to have some particular
discourse with you which would hardly be possible in this place。
As for wine； I can give you some much better than you can get here：
the landlord is an excellent fellow； but he is an innkeeper after
all。 I am going out for a moment； and will send him in； so that
you may settle your account； I trust you will not refuse me； I only
live about two miles from here。'
I looked in the face of the stranger … it was a fine intelligent
face； with a cast of melancholy in it。 'Sir；' said I； 'I would go
with you though you lived four miles instead of two。'
'Who is that gentleman？' said I to the landlord； after I had
settled his bill； 'I am going home with him。'
'I wish I were going too；' said the fat landlord； laying his hand
upon his stomach。 'Young gentleman； I shall be a loser by his
honour's taking you away； but； after all； the truth is the truth …
there are few gentlemen in these parts like his honour； either for
learning or welcoming his friends。 Young gentleman； I congratulate
you。'
CHAPTER LXIV
New acquaintance … Old French style … The portrait … Taciturnity …
The evergreen tree … The dark hour … The flash … Ancestors … A
fortunate man … A posthumous child … Antagonist ideas … The hawks …
Flaws … The pony … Irresistible impulse … Favourable crisis … The
topmost branch … Twenty feet … Heartily ashamed。
I FOUND the stranger awaiting me at the door of the inn。 'Like
yourself； I am fond of walking；' said he； 'and when any little
business calls me to this place I generally come on foot。'
We were soon out of the town； and in a very beautiful country。
After proceeding some distance on the high…road； we turned off； and
were presently in one of those mazes of lanes for which England is
famous； the stranger at first seemed inclined to be taciturn； a few
observations； however； which I made appeared to rouse him； and he
soon exhibited not only considerable powers of conversation； but
stores of information which surprised me。 So pleased did I become
with my new acquaintance that I soon ceased to pay the slightest
attention either to place or distance。 At length the stranger was
silent； and I perceived that we had arrived at a handsome iron gate
and a lodge； the stranger having rung a bell； the gate was opened
by an old man； and we proceeded along a gravel path； which in about
five minutes brought us to a large brick house； built something in
the old French style； having a spacious lawn before it； and
immediately in front a pond in which were golden fish； and in the
middle a stone swan discharging quantities of water from its bill。
We ascended a spacious flight of steps to the door； which was at
once flung open； and two servants with powdered hair and in livery
of blue plush came out and stood one on either side as we passed
the threshold。 We entered a large hall； and the stranger； taking
me by the hand； welcomed me to his poor home； as he called it； and
then gave orders to another servant； but out of livery； to show me
to an apartment； and give me whatever assistance I might require in
my toilet。 Notwithstanding the plea as to primitive habits which I
had lately made to my other host in the town； I offered no
objection to this arrangement； but followed the bowing domestic to
a spacious and airy chamber； where he rendered me all those little
nameless offices which the somewhat neglected state of my dress
required。 When everything had been completed to my perfect
satisfaction； he told me that if I pleased he would conduct me to
the library； where dinner would be speedily served。
In the library I found a table laid for two； my host was not there；
having as I supposed not been quite so speedy with his toilet as
his guest。 Left alone； I looked round the apartment with inquiring
eyes； it was long and tolerably lofty； the walls from the top to
the bottom were lined with cases containing books of all sizes and
bindings； there was a globe or two； a couch； and an easy…chair。
Statues and busts there were none； and only one painting； a
portrait； that of my host； but not him of the mansion。 Over the
mantelpiece； the features staringly like； but so ridiculously
exaggerated that they scarcely resembled those of a human being；
daubed evidently by the hand of the commonest sign…artist； hung a
half…length portrait of him of round of beef celebrity … my sturdy
host of the town。
I had been in the library about ten minutes； amusing myself as I
best could； when my friend entered； he seemed to have resumed his
taciturnity … scarce a word escaped his lips till dinner was
served； when he said； smiling； 'I suppose it would be merely a
compliment to ask you to partake？'
'I don't know；' said I； seating myself； 'your first course consists
of troutlets； I am fo