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landlord； duly put the leading question。
“Why； old Mr。 Lammeter had a pretty fortin； didn’t they say；
when he come into these parts？”
“Well； yes；” said Mr。 Macey； “but I daresay it’s as much as this
Mr。 Lammeter’s done to keep it whole。 For there was allays a talk
as nobody could get rich on the Warrens： though he holds it cheap；
for it’s what they call Charity Land。”
“Ay； and there’s few folks know so well as you how it come to be
Charity Land； eh； Mr。 Macey？” said the butcher。
“How should they？” said the old clerk； with some contempt。
“Why； my grandfather made the grooms’ livery for that Mr。 Cliff as
came and built the big stables at the Warrens。 Why； they’re stables
four times as big as Squire Cass’s； for he thought o’ nothing but
hosses and hunting； Cliff didn’t—a Lunnon tailor； some folks said；
as had gone mad wi’ cheating。 For he couldn’t ride； lor bless you！
they said he’d got no more grip o’ the hoss than if his legs had
been cross…sticks； my grandfather heared old Squire Cass say so
many and many a time。 But ride he would； as if Old Harry had
been a…driving him； and he’d a son； a lad o’ sixteen； and nothing
would his father have him do； but he must ride and ride—though
the lad was frighted； they said。 And it was a common saying as the
father wanted to ride the tailor out o’ the lad； and make a
gentleman on him—not but what I’m a tailor myself； but in respect
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as God made me such； I’m proud on it； for ‘Macey； tailor’； ’s been
wrote up over our door since afore the Queen’s heads went out on
the shillings。 But Cliff； he was ashamed o’ being called a tailor； and
he was sore vexed as his riding was laughed at； and nobody o’ the
gentlefolks hereabout could abide him。 Howsomever； the poor lad
got sickly and died； and the father didn’t live long after him； for he
got queerer nor ever； and they said he used to go out i’ the dead o’
the night； wi’ a lantern in his hand； to the stables； and set a lot o’
lights burning； for he got as he couldn’t sleep； and there he’d
stand； cracking his whip and looking at his hosses； and they said it
was a mercy as the stables didn’t get burned down wi’ the poor
dumb creaturs in ’em。 But at last he died raving； and they found as
he’d left all his property； Warrens and all； to a Lunnon Charity；
and that’s how the Warrens come to be Charity Land； though； as
for the stables； Mr。 Lammeter never uses ’em—they’re out o’ all
charicter—lor bless you！ if you was to set the doors a…banging in
’em； it ’ud sound like thunder half o’er the parish。”
“Ay； but there’s more going on in the stables than what folks
see by daylight； eh； Mr。 Macey？” said the landlord。
“Ay； ay； go that way of a dark night； that’s all；” said Mr。 Macey；
winking mysteriously； “and then make believe； if you like； as you
didn’t see lights i’ the stables； nor hear the stamping o’ the hosses；
nor the cracking o’ the whips； and howling； too； if it’s tow’rt
daybreak。 ‘Cliff’s Holiday’ has been the name of it ever sin’ I were
a boy； that’s to say； some said as it was the holiday Old Harry gev
him from roasting； like。 That’s what my father told me； and he was
a reasonable man； though there’s folks nowadays know what
happened afore they were born better nor they know their own
business。”
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“What do you say to that； eh； Dowlas？” said the landlord；
turning to the farrier； who was swelling with impatience for his
cue。 “There’s a nut for you to crack。”
Mr。 Dowlas was the negative spirit in the company； and was
proud of his position。
“Say？ I say what a man should say as doesn’t shut his eyes to
look at a fingerpost。 I say； as I’m ready to wager any man ten
pound； if he’ll stand out wi’ me any dry night in the pasture before
the Warren stables； as we shall neither see lights nor hear noises；
if it isn’t the blowing of our own noses。 That’s what I say； and I’ve
said it many a time； but there’s nobody ’ull ventur a ten…pun’ note
on their ghos’es as they make so sure of。”
“Why； Dowlas； that’s easy betting； that is；” said Ben Winthrop。
“You might as well bet a man as he wouldn’t catch the rheumatise
if he stood up to ’s neck in the pool of a frosty night。 It ’ud be fine
fun for a man to win his bet as he’d catch the rheumatise。 Folks as
believe in Cliff’s Holiday aren’t a…going to ventur near it for a
matter o’ ten pound。”
“If Master Dowlas wants to know the truth on it；” said Mr。
Macey； with a sarcastic smile； tapping his thumbs together； “he’s
no call to lay any bet—let him go and stan’ by himself—there’s
nobody ’ull hinder him； and then he can let the parish’ners know if
they’re wrong。”
“Thank you！ I’m obliged to you；” said the farrier； with a snort of
scorn。 “If folks are fools； it’s no business o’ mine。 I don’t want to
make out the truth about ghos’es： I know it a’ready。 But I’m not
against a bet—everything fair and open。 Let any man bet me ten
pound as I shall see Cliff’s Holiday； and I’ll go and stand by myself。
I want no company。 I’d as lief do it as I’d fill this pipe。”
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“Ah； but who’s to watch you； Dowlas； and see you do it？ That’s
no fair bet；” said the butcher。
“No fair bet！” replied Mr。 Dowlas； angrily。 “I should like to hear
any man stand up and say I want to bet unfair。 Come now； Master
Lundy； I should like to hear you say it。”
“Very like you would；” said the butcher。 “But it’s no business o’
mine。 You’re none o’ my bargains； and I aren’t a…going to try and
’bate your price。 If anybody’ll bid for you at your own vallying； let
him。 I’m for peace and quietness； I am。”
“Yes； that’s what every yapping cur is； when you hold a stick up
at him；” said the farrier。 “But I’m