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suspicion； 'are you sure you can afford it？'
I assured him I could。
'I thank you； then： I am very cold。' He took the glass out； and a
little colour came in his face。 'I thank you again；' said he。 'It
goes to the heart。'
The Major； when I motioned him to help himself； did so with a good
deal of liberality； continued to do so for the rest of the morning；
now with some sort of apology； now with none at all； and the bottle
began to look foolish before dinner was served。 It was such a meal
as he had himself predicted： beef； greens； potatoes； mustard in a
teacup； and beer in a brown jug that was all over hounds； horses；
and hunters； with a fox at the fat end and a gigantic John Bull …
for all the world like Fenn … sitting in the midst in a bob…wig and
smoking tobacco。 The beer was a good brew； but not good enough for
the Major； he laced it with brandy … for his cold； he said； and in
this curative design the remainder of the bottle ebbed away。 He
called my attention repeatedly to the circumstance； helped me
pointedly to the dregs； threw the bottle in the air and played
tricks with it； and at last； having exhausted his ingenuity； and
seeing me remain quite blind to every hint； he ordered and paid for
another himself。
As for the Colonel； he ate nothing； sat sunk in a muse； and only
awoke occasionally to a sense of where he was； and what he was
supposed to be doing。 On each of these occasions he showed a
gratitude and kind courtesy that endeared him to me beyond
expression。 'Champdivers； my lad； your health！' he would say。
'The Major and I had a very arduous march last night； and I
positively thought I should have eaten nothing； but your fortunate
idea of the brandy has made quite a new man of me … quite a new
man。' And he would fall to with a great air of heartiness； cut
himself a mouthful； and； before he had swallowed it； would have
forgotten his dinner； his company； the place where he then was； and
the escape he was engaged on； and become absorbed in the vision of
a sick…room and a dying girl in France。 The pathos of this
continual preoccupation； in a man so old； sick； and over…weary； and
whom I looked upon as a mere bundle of dying bones and death…pains；
put me wholly from my victuals： it seemed there was an element of
sin； a kind of rude bravado of youth； in the mere relishing of food
at the same table with this tragic father； and though I was well
enough used to the coarse； plain diet of the English； I ate scarce
more than himself。 Dinner was hardly over before he succumbed to a
lethargic sleep； lying on one of the mattresses with his limbs
relaxed； and his breath seemingly suspended … the very image of
dissolution。
This left the Major and myself alone at the table。 You must not
suppose our TETE…A…TETE was long； but it was a lively period while
it lasted。 He drank like a fish or an Englishman； shouted； beat
the table； roared out songs； quarrelled； made it up again； and at
last tried to throw the dinner…plates through the window； a feat of
which he was at that time quite incapable。 For a party of
fugitives； condemned to the most rigorous discretion； there was
never seen so noisy a carnival； and through it all the Colonel
continued to sleep like a child。 Seeing the Major so well
advanced； and no retreat possible； I made a fair wind of a foul
one； keeping his glass full； pushing him with toasts； and sooner
than I could have dared to hope； he became drowsy and incoherent。
With the wrong…headedness of all such sots； he would not be
persuaded to lie down upon one of the mattresses until I had
stretched myself upon another。 But the comedy was soon over； soon
he slept the sleep of the just； and snored like a military music；
and I might get up again and face （as best I could） the excessive
tedium of the afternoon。
I had passed the night before in a good bed； I was denied the
resource of slumber； and there was nothing open for me but to pace
the apartment； maintain the fire； and brood on my position。 I
compared yesterday and to…day … the safety； comfort； jollity； open…
air exercise and pleasant roadside inns of the one； with the
tedium； anxiety； and discomfort of the other。 I remembered that I
was in the hands of Fenn； who could not be more false … though he
might be more vindictive … than I fancied him。 I looked forward to
nights of pitching in the covered cart； and days of monotony in I
knew not what hiding…places； and my heart failed me； and I was in
two minds whether to slink off ere it was too late； and return to
my former solitary way of travel。 But the Colonel stood in the
path。 I had not seen much of him； but already I judged him a man
of a childlike nature … with that sort of innocence and courtesy
that； I think； is only to be found in old soldiers or old priests …
and broken with years and sorrow。 I could not turn my back on his
distress； could not leave him alone with the selfish trooper who
snored on the next mattress。 'Champdivers； my lad； your health！'
said a voice in my ear； and stopped me … and there are few things I
am more glad of in the retrospect than that it did。
It must have been about four in the afternoon … at least the rain
had taken off； and the sun was setting with some wintry pomp … when
the current of my reflections was effectually changed by the
arrival of two visitors in a gig。 They were farmers of the
neighbourhood； I suppose … big； burly fellows in great…coats and
top…boots； mightily flushed with liquor when they arrived； and；
before they left； inimitably drunk。 They stayed long in the
kitchen with Burchell； drinking； shouting； singing； and keeping it
up； and the sound of their merry minstrelsy kept me a kind of
company。 The night fell； and the shine of the fire brightened and
blinked on the panelled wall。 Our illuminated windows must have
been visible not only from the back lane of which Fenn had spoken；
but from the court where the farmers' gig awaited them。 In the far
end of the firelit room lay my companions； the one silent； the
other clamorously noisy； the images of death and drunkenness。
Little wonder if I were tempted to join in the choruses below； and
sometimes could hardly refrain from laughter； and sometimes； I
believe； from tears … so unmitigated was the tedium； so cruel the
suspense； of this period。
At last； about six at night； I should fancy； the noisy minstrels
appeared in the court； headed by Fenn with a lantern； and knocking
together as they came。 The visitors clambered noisily into the
gig； one of them shook the reins； and they were snatched out of
sight and hearing with a suddenness that partook of the nature of
prodigy。 I am well aware there is a Providence for drunken men；
that holds the reins for them and presides over their troubles；
doubtless he had his work cut out for him with this particular
gigful！ F