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possible you procure； at my expense； the best Hollands you can
find。'
CHAPTER XCI
Excursions … Adventurous English … Opaque forests … The greatest
patience。
TIME passed on； and Belle and I lived in the dingle； when I say
lived； the reader must not imagine that we were always there。 She
went out upon her pursuits； and I went out where inclination led
me； but my excursions were very short ones； and hers occasionally
occupied whole days and nights。 If I am asked how we passed the
time when we were together in the dingle； I would answer that we
passed the time very tolerably； all things considered； we conversed
together； and when tired of conversing I would sometimes give Belle
a lesson in Armenian； her progress was not particularly brilliant；
but upon the whole satisfactory； in about a fortnight she had hung
up one hundred Haikan numerals upon the hake of her memory。 I
found her conversation highly entertaining； she had seen much of
England and Wales； and had been acquainted with some of the most
remarkable characters who travelled the roads at that period； and
let me be permitted to say that many remarkable characters have
travelled the roads of England； of whom fame has never said a word。
I loved to hear her anecdotes of these people； some of whom I found
had occasionally attempted to lay violent hands either upon her
person or effects； and had invariably been humbled by her without
the assistance of either justice or constable。 I could clearly
see； however； that she was rather tired of England； and wished for
a change of scene； she was particularly fond of talking of America；
to which country her aspirations chiefly tended。 She had heard
much of America； which had excited her imagination； for at that
time America was much talked of； on roads and in homesteads … at
least； so said Belle； who had good opportunities of knowing … and
most people allowed that it was a good country for adventurous
English。 The people who chiefly spoke against it； as she informed
me； were soldiers disbanded upon pensions； the sextons of village
churches； and excisemen。 Belle had a craving desire to visit that
country； and to wander with cart and little animal amongst its
forests； when I would occasionally object that she would be exposed
to danger from strange and perverse customers； she said that she
had not wandered the roads of England so long and alone； to be
afraid of anything which might befall in America； and that she
hoped； with God's favour； to be able to take her own part； and to
give to perverse customers as good as they might bring。 She had a
dauntless heart； that same Belle。 Such was the staple of Belle's
conversation。 As for mine； I would endeavour to entertain her with
strange dreams of adventure； in which I figured in opaque forests；
strangling wild beasts； or discovering and plundering the hoards of
dragons； and sometimes I would narrate to her other things far more
genuine … how I had tamed savage mares； wrestled with Satan； and
had dealings with ferocious publishers。 Belle had a kind heart；
and would weep at the accounts I gave her of my early wrestlings
with the dark Monarch。 She would sigh； too； as I recounted the
many slights and degradations I had received at the hands of
ferocious publishers； but she had the curiosity of a woman； and
once； when I talked to her of the triumphs which I had achieved
over unbroken mares； she lifted up her head and questioned me as to
the secret of the virtue which I possessed over the aforesaid
animals； whereupon I sternly reprimanded； and forthwith commanded
her to repeat the Armenian numerals； and； on her demurring； I made
use of words； to escape which she was glad to comply； saying the
Armenian numerals from one to a hundred； which numerals； as a
punishment for her curiosity； I made her repeat three times；
loading her with the bitterest reproaches whenever she committed
the slightest error； either in accent or pronunciation； which
reproaches she appeared to bear with the greatest patience。 And
now I have given a very fair account of the manner in which Isopel
Berners and myself passed our time in the dingle。
CHAPTER XCII
The landlord … Rather too old … Without a shilling … Reputation … A
fortnight ago … Liquids … The main chance … Respectability …
Irrational beings … Parliament cove … My brewer。
AMONGST other excursions； I went several times to the public…house
to which I introduced the reader in a former chapter。 I had
experienced such beneficial effects from the ale I had drunk on
that occasion； that I wished to put its virtue to a frequent test；
nor did the ale on subsequent trials belie the good opinion which I
had at first formed of it。 After each visit which I made to the
public…house； I found my frame stronger and my mind more cheerful
than they had previously been。 The landlord appeared at all times
glad to see me； and insisted that I should sit within the bar；
where； leaving his other guests to be attended to by a niece of
his； who officiated as his housekeeper； he would sit beside me and
talk of matters concerning 'the ring；' indulging himself with a
cigar and a glass of sherry； which he told me was his favourite
wine； whilst I drank my ale。 'I loves the conversation of all you
coves of the ring；' said he once； 'which is natural； seeing as how
I have fought in a ring myself。 Ah； there is nothing like the
ring； I wish I was not rather too old to go again into it。 I often
think I should like to have another rally … one more rally； and
then … but there's a time for all things … youth will be served；
every dog has his day； and mine has been a fine one … let me be
content。 After beating Tom of Hopton； there was not much more to
be done in the way of reputation； I have long sat in my bar the
wonder and glory of this here neighbourhood。 I'm content； as far
as reputation goes； I only wish money would come in a little
faster； however； the next main of cocks will bring me in something
handsome … comes off next Wednesday； at …； have ventured ten five…
pound notes … shouldn't say ventured either … run no risk at all；
because why？ I knows my birds。' About ten days after this
harangue I called again； at about three o'clock one afternoon。 The
landlord was seated on a bench by a table in the common room； which
was entirely empty； he was neither smoking nor drinking； but sat
with his arms folded； and his head hanging down over his breast。
At the sound of my step he looked up； 'Ah；' said he； 'I am glad you
are come； I was just thinking about you。' 'Thank you；' said I； 'it
was very kind of you； especially at a time like this； when your
mind must be full of your good fortune。 Allow me to congratulate
you on the sums of money you won by the main of cocks at …。 I hope
you brought it all safe home。' 'Safe home！'