Chapter 29 - Page 2

he was surrounded.

In the course of time, the Maypolea€™s massive chimneys rose upon his view: but he quickened not his pace one jot, and with the same cool gravity rode up to the tavern porch. John Willet, who was toasting his red face before a great fire in the bar, and who, with surpassing foresight and quickness of apprehension, had been thinking, as he looked at the blue sky, that if that state of things lasted much longer, it might ultimately become necessary to leave off fires and throw the windows open, issued forth to hold his stirrup; calling lustily for Hugh.

a€˜Oh, youa€™re here, are you, sir?a€™ said John, rather surprised by the quickness with which he appeared. a€˜Take this here valuable animal into the stable, and have more than particular care of him if you want to keep your place. A mortal lazy fellow, sir; he needs a deal of looking after.a€™

a€˜But you have a son,a€™ returned Mr Chester, giving his bridle to Hugh as he dismounted, and acknowledging his salute by a careless motion of his hand towards his hat. a€˜Why dona€™t you make him useful?a€™

a€˜Why, the truth is, sir,a€™ replied John with great importance, a€˜that my sona€"what, youa€™re a-listening are you, villain?a€™

a€˜Whoa€™s listening?a€™ returned Hugh angrily. a€˜A treat, indeed, to hear you speak! Would you have me take him in till hea€™s cool?a€™

a€˜Walk him up and down further off then, sir,a€™ cried old John, a€˜and when you see me and a noble gentleman entertaining ourselves with talk, keep your distance. If you dona€™t know your distance, sir,a€™ added Mr Willet, after an enormously long pause, during which he fixed his great dull eyes on Hugh, and waited with exemplary patience for any little property in the way of ideas that might come to him, a€˜wea€™ll find a way to teach you, pretty soon.a€™

Hugh shrugged his shoulders scornfully, and in his reckless swaggering way, crossed to the other side of the little green, and there, with the bridle slung loosely over his shoulder, led the horse to and fro, glancing at his master every now and then from under his bushy eyebrows, with as sinister an aspect as one would desire to see.

Mr Chester, who, without appearing to do so, had eyed him attentively during this brief dispute, stepped into the porch, and turning abruptly to Mr Willet, said, a€˜You keep strange servants, John.a€™

a€˜Strange enough to look at, sir, certainly,a€™ answered the host; a€˜but out of doors; for horses, dogs, and the likes of that; there ana€™t a better