Mrs. Sparks demurred—she was afraid it wouldn't suit.
'Take me in to-night,' said the stranger; 'to-morrow I will tell you about it.' And so it was agreed. After which the maid from the Hall looked with ineffable contempt on him.
The branch road leading to Parker's Dew now came in sight, and Shady prepared to alight. He placed the bonnet tenderly on his vacant seat, and gathered his many goods from their various hiding-places. 'You can't carry them all,' said Sparks.
'I expected Robinson to be here,' replied the librarian.
'I'm here, please,' said a little lad, springing up from under the hedge.
'That is well, Robinson,' said he, with dignity; and, having nearly covered him with parcels, he took the basket, and, bowing courteously to the stranger, with a somewhat patronizing nod to Sparks, he took his way to 'the Jew.'
'Isn't he a speciment?' said Sparks to the stranger.
'A most benevolent spirit,' replied the stranger. And at the same time Biddy Sparks, who now sat next her grandson, administered a cautioning nudge.
'What are ye poking me for, granny?' he cried out. 'I suppose there's no purtickler harm in that; he is a speciment, and I maintains it.'
As if in defiance of her, he immediately began a long description of Shady's life and occupations, to which the stranger listened with interest.