The Broad Highway

s of, say, a beefsteak. One cannot rhapsodize upon the beauties of a sunset, or contemplate the pale witchery of the moon with any real degree of poetic fervor

of the "Old Cock" tavern. And presently, sure enough, I espied it, an ugly, flat-fronted building, before which stood a dilapidated horse trough and a battered sign. Despite its uninviting exterior, I hurried forward, and mountin

ome breakfast

ing, master," he answ

g to what

o what you w

to that-"

to the fire, "if you was to ask me for a French hortolon-or even

no such thin

m I to know as you ain't set you

hing of the sort," sai

, scowling threatening

" I hasten

upon me a doleful eye, "a steak!" he repeated; "of course-it would be; I

eggs will suit me very well; why cou

d me as I remember,

to give my order. In a few minutes he reappeared with some billets of wood beneath his arm, and followed by a merry-eyed, rosy-chee

!" said I, lifting my

, setting down the cruet with

lovely when there ain't no love in it-no, not so much as would fill a thimble? I say it ain't a lovely morning, not by no manner o' mean

em somewhat gloomy t

ight now, come Satu'day," re

" sa

and sighing instead; "it's very sad, h

d I, "can't you tr

sir-o

think you might console

g and dimpling very prettily, "it do s

derstand,

wn the road yonder; leastways, I

ll fellow?"

ee know h

pair of black w

they do be handsome whisk

aw. I wish you every

dimpling more prettily than ever, she

the pipe shaped like a negro's head, and, calling for a paper of tobacco,

of mine. Never before, and never since have I tasted just such eggs, and such ham-so tender! so delicate! so full of flavor! It is a memory that can never fade. Indeed, sometimes (even now), when I grow hun

galloped in a smother of mud. As I watched its rapid approach, the postilion swung his horses towards the inn, and a moment later had pulled up before the door. They had

y cursing the post-boy for some fault; the second was a tall, languid gentleman, who carried a flat, oblong box beneath one arm, and who paused to fondle his whisker, and

himself in the small, cracked mirror that hung against the wall, the plethoric individual bus

ho stood looking out of the window with his hands still deep in his pockets; "we did

the mirror, and I noticed that he, too, g

seem in a drinking humor," and, with the very slightest s

umor," answered Sir Jasper, without turnin

now where, and in what connection

me pallor of his face. I noticed also a peculiar habit he had of moistening his lips at frequent intervals with the tip of his tongue, and there was

the bell-rope, "hot one day, cold the next, now sun, now rain- Oh, damn it! Now in France-ah, what a climate-heavenly-positively div

," he broke off, as the rosy-cheeked maid appeared with the brandy and glasses, "though mark you, there's much to be said for your English country wenches, after all," saying which, he slipped his a

er, I quarrel only wit

he devil sends

ee and winding road, "there is no fairer land, in all the world, than this England of ours; it were a good thing to die-for England, but that is a

lby, in a loud, boisterous

a shrug at the cracked mirror. "Something so inf

ing already," Sir Jasper went on; "strange, but I never realiz

le the man Selby shook his head, and smiled unpleasantly. As he did so, his eye encountered me, where I sat

inis' to a more or less interesting incident, and I beg of you, in tha

it to him without a word; as for Selby, he stood stolidly enough,

d, but next moment reached out a white, unsteady hand, and raised the brandy to

returning the empty glass;

r. Chester, consulting his watch, "and

," said Sir Ja

ow the

, y

well start, if

be cool and fr

Chester, and, with a last glance at the mirror, he slippe

ng for the bill, frown

ing at?" he demanded suddenl

t my eyes were given for use, and that having used them upon you,

frowning fier

r person, your manner, or your voice tha

apes!" said he; "damnation,

should advise you not, for should you make the attempt

im the bill with a curtesy. He glanced at it, tossed so

eet you agai

ably know m

uld you," he continued, drawing on his gloves, "should you stare at me with those damned, impert

inly throw you out of

two, and all three walk on together down the road. Sir Jasper was in the middle, and I noticed that his hands were still deep in his pockets. Now, as I w

called for and settled my score. As I rose, the pretty chambermaid pic

This time she neither shrieked nor ran from

I have fishes'

t an' black an' wi' little lights a-dancing in th

orn steps, and looking back at her, "by