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very ill…tempered state； and rain was beginning。
The village shoemaker declined to have anything to do with Carrock。
No visitors went up Carrock。 No visitors came there at all。 Aa'
the world ganged awa' yon。 The driver appealed to the Innkeeper。
The Innkeeper had two men working in the fields； and one of them
should be called in； to go up Carrock as guide。 Messrs。 Idle and
Goodchild； highly approving； entered the Innkeeper's house； to
drink whiskey and eat oatcake。
The Innkeeper was not idle enough … was not idle at all； which was
a great fault in him … but was a fine specimen of a north…country
man； or any kind of man。 He had a ruddy cheek； a bright eye； a
well…knit frame； an immense hand； a cheery； outspeaking voice； and
a straight； bright； broad look。 He had a drawing…room； too；
upstairs； which was worth a visit to the Cumberland Fells。 （This
was Mr。 Francis Goodchild's opinion； in which Mr。 Thomas Idle did
not concur。）
The ceiling of this drawing…room was so crossed and recrossed by
beams of unequal lengths； radiating from a centre； in a corner；
that it looked like a broken star…fish。 The room was comfortably
and solidly furnished with good mahogany and horsehair。 It had a
snug fireside； and a couple of well…curtained windows； looking out
upon the wild country behind the house。 What it most developed
was； an unexpected taste for little ornaments and nick…nacks； of
which it contained a most surprising number。 They were not very
various； consisting in great part of waxen babies with their limbs
more or less mutilated； appealing on one leg to the parental
affections from under little cupping glasses； but； Uncle Tom was
there； in crockery； receiving theological instructions from Miss
Eva； who grew out of his side like a wen； in an exceedingly rough
state of profile propagandism。 Engravings of Mr。 Hunt's country
boy； before and after his pie； were on the wall； divided by a
highly…coloured nautical piece； the subject of which had all her
colours （and more） flying； and was making great way through a sea
of a regular pattern； like a lady's collar。 A benevolent； elderly
gentleman of the last century； with a powdered head； kept guard； in
oil and varnish； over a most perplexing piece of furniture on a
table； in appearance between a driving seat and an angular knife…
box； but； when opened； a musical instrument of tinkling wires；
exactly like David's harp packed for travelling。 Everything became
a nick…nack in this curious room。 The copper tea…kettle； burnished
up to the highest point of glory； took his station on a stand of
his own at the greatest possible distance from the fireplace； and
said： 'By your leave； not a kettle； but a bijou。' The
Staffordshire…ware butter…dish with the cover on； got upon a little
round occasional table in a window； with a worked top； and
announced itself to the two chairs accidentally placed there； as an
aid to polite conversation； a graceful trifle in china to be
chatted over by callers； as they airily trifled away the visiting
moments of a butterfly existence； in that rugged old village on the
Cumberland Fells。 The very footstool could not keep the floor； but
got upon a sofa； and there…from proclaimed itself； in high relief
of white and liver…coloured wool； a favourite spaniel coiled up for
repose。 Though； truly； in spite of its bright glass eyes； the
spaniel was the least successful assumption in the collection：
being perfectly flat； and dismally suggestive of a recent mistake
in sitting down on the part of some corpulent member of the family。
There were books； too； in this room； books on the table； books on
the chimney…piece； books in an open press in the corner。 Fielding
was there； and Smollett was there； and Steele and Addison were
there； in dispersed volumes； and there were tales of those who go
down to the sea in ships； for windy nights； and there was really a
choice of good books for rainy days or fine。 It was so very
pleasant to see these things in such a lonesome by…place … so very
agreeable to find these evidences of a taste； however homely； that
went beyond the beautiful cleanliness and trimness of the house …
so fanciful to imagine what a wonder a room must be to the little
children born in the gloomy village … what grand impressions of it
those of them who became wanderers over the earth would carry away；
and how； at distant ends of the world； some old voyagers would die；
cherishing the belief that the finest apartment known to men was
once in the Hesket…Newmarket Inn； in rare old Cumberland … it was
such a charmingly lazy pursuit to entertain these rambling thoughts
over the choice oatcake and the genial whiskey； that Mr。 Idle and
Mr。 Goodchild never asked themselves how it came to pass that the
men in the fields were never heard of more； how the stalwart
landlord replaced them without explanation； how his dog…cart came
to be waiting at the door； and how everything was arranged without
the least arrangement for climbing to old Carrock's shoulders； and
standing on his head。
Without a word of inquiry； therefore； the Two Idle Apprentices
drifted out resignedly into a fine； soft； close； drowsy；
penetrating rain； got into the landlord's light dog…cart； and
rattled off through the village for the foot of Carrock。 The
journey at the outset was not remarkable。 The Cumberland road went
up and down like all other roads； the Cumberland curs burst out
from backs of cottages and barked like other curs； and the
Cumberland peasantry stared after the dog…cart amazedly； as long as
it was in sight； like the rest of their race。 The approach to the
foot of the mountain resembled the approaches to the feet of most
other mountains all over the world。 The cultivation gradually
ceased； the trees grew gradually rare； the road became gradually
rougher； and the sides of the mountain looked gradually more and
more lofty； and more and more difficult to get up。 The dog…cart
was left at a lonely farm…house。 The landlord borrowed a large
umbrella； and； assuming in an instant the character of the most
cheerful and adventurous of guides； led the way to the ascent。 Mr。
Goodchild looked eagerly at the top of the mountain； and； feeling
apparently that he was now going to be very lazy indeed； shone all
over wonderfully to the eye； under the influence of the contentment
within and the moisture without。 Only in the bosom of Mr。 Thomas
Idle did Despondency now hold her gloomy state。 He kept it a
secret； but he would have given a very handsome sum； when the
ascent began； to have been back again at the inn。 The sides of
Carrock looked fearfully steep； and the top of Carrock was hidden
in mist。 The rain was falling faster and faster。 The knees of Mr。
Idle … always weak on walking excursions … shivered and shook with
fear and damp。 The wet was already penetrating through the young
man's outer coat to a brand…new shooting…jacket； for which he had
reluctantly paid the