nestcontemplationofsomeprint,andshenotonlymighthavepassedhimunseen,butwasobligedtotouchaswellasaddresshimbeforeshecouldcatchhisnotice.Whenhedidperceiveandacknowledgeher,however,itwasdonewithallhisusualfranknessandgoodhumour.“Ha!isityou?Thankyou,thankyou.Thisistreatingmelikeafriend.HereIam,yousee,staringatapicture.Icannevergetbythisshopwithoutstopping.Butwhatathinghereis,bywayofaboat!Dolookatit.Didyoueverseethelike?Whatqueerfellowsyourfinepaintersmustbe,tothinkthatanybodywouldventuretheirlivesinsuchashapelessoldcockleshellasthat?Andyetherearetwogentlemenstuckupinitmightilyattheirease,andlookingaboutthemattherocksandmountains,asiftheywerenottobeupsetthenextmoment,whichtheycertainlymustbe.Iwonderwherethatboatwasbuilt!”(laughingheartily)“Iwouldnotventureoverahorsepondinit.Well,”(turningaway),“now,whereareyoubound?CanIgoanywhereforyou,orwithyou?CanIbeofanyuse?”
“None,Ithankyou,unlessyouwillgivemethepleasureofyourcompanythelittlewayourroadliestogether.Iamgoinghome.”
“ThatIwill,withallmyheart,andfarther,too.Yes,yeswewillhaveasnugwalktogether,andIhavesomethingtotellyouaswegoalong.There,takemyarmthat’srightIdonotfeelcomfortableifIhavenotawomanthere.Lord!whataboatitis!”takingalastlookatthepicture,astheybegantobeinmotion.
“Didyousaythatyouhadsomethingtotellme,sir?”
“Yes,Ihave,presently.Butherecomesafriend,CaptainBrigdenIshallonlysay,‘Howd’yedo?’aswepass,however.Ishallnotstop.‘Howd’yedo?’Brigdenstarestoseeanybodywithmebutmywife.She,poorsoul,istiedbytheleg.Shehasablisterononeofherheels,aslargeasathree-shillingpiece.Ifyoulookacrossthestreet,youwillseeAdmiralBrandcomingdownandhisbrother.Shabbyfellows,bothofthem!Iamgladtheyarenotonthissideoftheway.Sophycannotbearthem.Theyplayedmeapitifultrickonce:gotawaywithsomeofmybestmen.Iwilltellyouthewholestoryanothertime.TherecomesoldSirArchibaldDrewandhisgrandson.L