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going but a bell； and wonderful wooden razors set aloft on great
posts； shaving the air。 In these fields； the horses； sheep； and
cattle were well used to the thundering meteor； and didn't mind； in
those； they were all set scampering together； and a herd of pigs
scoured after them。 The pastoral country darkened； became coaly；
became smoky； became infernal； got better； got worse； improved
again； grew rugged； turned romantic； was a wood； a stream； a chain
of hills； a gorge； a moor； a cathedral town； a fortified place； a
waste。 Now； miserable black dwellings； a black canal； and sick
black towers of chimneys； now； a trim garden； where the flowers
were bright and fair； now； a wilderness of hideous altars all a…
blaze； now； the water meadows with their fairy rings； now； the
mangy patch of unlet building ground outside the stagnant town；
with the larger ring where the Circus was last week。 The
temperature changed； the dialect changed； the people changed； faces
got sharper； manner got shorter； eyes got shrewder and harder； yet
all so quickly； that the spruce guard in the London uniform and
silver lace； had not yet rumpled his shirt…collar； delivered half
the dispatches in his shiny little pouch； or read his newspaper。
Carlisle！ Idle and Goodchild had got to Carlisle。 It looked
congenially and delightfully idle。 Something in the way of public
amusement had happened last month； and something else was going to
happen before Christmas； and； in the meantime there was a lecture
on India for those who liked it … which Idle and Goodchild did not。
Likewise； by those who liked them； there were impressions to be
bought of all the vapid prints； going and gone； and of nearly all
the vapid books。 For those who wanted to put anything in
missionary boxes； here were the boxes。 For those who wanted the
Reverend Mr。 Podgers （artist's proofs； thirty shillings）； here was
Mr。 Podgers to any amount。 Not less gracious and abundant； Mr。
Codgers also of the vineyard； but opposed to Mr。 Podgers； brotherly
tooth and nail。 Here； were guide…books to the neighbouring
antiquities； and eke the Lake country； in several dry and husky
sorts； here； many physically and morally impossible heads of both
sexes； for young ladies to copy； in the exercise of the art of
drawing； here； further； a large impression of MR。 SPURGEON； solid
as to the flesh； not to say even something gross。 The working
young men of Carlisle were drawn up； with their hands in their
pockets； across the pavements； four and six abreast； and appeared
（much to the satisfaction of Mr。 Idle） to have nothing else to do。
The working and growing young women of Carlisle； from the age of
twelve upwards； promenaded the streets in the cool of the evening；
and rallied the said young men。 Sometimes the young men rallied
the young women； as in the case of a group gathered round an
accordion…player； from among whom a young man advanced behind a
young woman for whom he appeared to have a tenderness； and hinted
to her that he was there and playful； by giving her （he wore clogs）
a kick。
On market morning； Carlisle woke up amazingly； and became （to the
two Idle Apprentices） disagreeably and reproachfully busy。 There
were its cattle market； its sheep market； and its pig market down
by the river； with raw…boned and shock…headed Rob Roys hiding their
Lowland dresses beneath heavy plaids； prowling in and out among the
animals； and flavouring the air with fumes of whiskey。 There was
its corn market down the main street； with hum of chaffering over
open sacks。 There was its general market in the street too； with
heather brooms on which the purple flower still flourished； and
heather baskets primitive and fresh to behold。 With women trying
on clogs and caps at open stalls； and 'Bible stalls' adjoining。
With 'Doctor Mantle's Dispensary for the cure of all Human Maladies
and no charge for advice；' and with Doctor Mantle's 'Laboratory of
Medical； Chemical； and Botanical Science' … both healing
institutions established on one pair of trestles； one board； and
one sun…blind。 With the renowned phrenologist from London； begging
to be favoured （at sixpence each） with the company of clients of
both sexes； to whom； on examination of their heads； he would make
revelations 'enabling him or her to know themselves。' Through all
these bargains and blessings； the recruiting…sergeant watchfully
elbowed his way； a thread of War in the peaceful skein。 Likewise
on the walls were printed hints that the Oxford Blues might not be
indisposed to hear of a few fine active young men； and that whereas
the standard of that distinguished corps is full six feet； 'growing
lads of five feet eleven' need not absolutely despair of being
accepted。
Scenting the morning air more pleasantly than the buried majesty of
Denmark did； Messrs。 Idle and Goodchild rode away from Carlisle at
eight o'clock one forenoon； bound for the village of Hesket；
Newmarket； some fourteen miles distant。 Goodchild （who had already
begun to doubt whether he was idle： as his way always is when he
has nothing to do） had read of a certain black old Cumberland hill
or mountain； called Carrock； or Carrock Fell； and had arrived at
the conclusion that it would be the culminating triumph of Idleness
to ascend the same。 Thomas Idle； dwelling on the pains inseparable
from that achievement； had expressed the strongest doubts of the
expediency； and even of the sanity； of the enterprise； but
Goodchild had carried his point； and they rode away。
Up hill and down hill； and twisting to the right； and twisting to
the left； and with old Skiddaw （who has vaunted himself a great
deal more than his merits deserve； but that is rather the way of
the Lake country）； dodging the apprentices in a picturesque and
pleasant manner。 Good； weather…proof； warm； pleasant houses； well
white…limed； scantily dotting the road。 Clean children coming out
to look； carrying other clean children as big as themselves。
Harvest still lying out and much rained upon； here and there；
harvest still unreaped。 Well…cultivated gardens attached to the
cottages； with plenty of produce forced out of their hard soil。
Lonely nooks； and wild； but people can be born； and married； and
buried in such nooks； and can live and love； and be loved； there as
elsewhere； thank God！ （Mr。 Goodchild's remark。） By…and…by； the
village。 Black； coarse…stoned； rough…windowed houses； some with
outer staircases； like Swiss houses； a sinuous and stony gutter
winding up hill and round the corner； by way of street。 All the
children running out directly。 Women pausing in washing； to peep
from doorways and very little windows。 Such were the observations
of Messrs。 Idle and Goodchild； as their conveyance stopped at the
village shoemaker's。 Old Carrock gloomed down upon it all in a
very ill…tempered state； and rain was beginning。
The village shoemaker declined to have anything to do with Carrock。
No visitors went u