"Most easy. I will prove it in a practical way. Repeat a proverb--any one that occurs to you; the more familiar the better--and I will mate it with another, equally familiar, which gives it the lie."
The gentleman might have accepted the challenge, but that a labourer, approaching them from his side of the stile, seemed to remind him that he was losing dignity in conversing with one who wore patched clothes, and who was unknown to him. Bidding the stranger "Good day," and slightly bending his head in acknowledgment of the labourer's deferential bow, he walked slowly away.
[CHAPTER III.]
CUSTOS ROTULORUM.
As the labourer crossed the stile, the stranger accosted him.
"Hodge!"
"Who be Hodge?" quoth the labourer uncivilly, but disposed for conversation and argument. "You--in a collective sense."
"Then ye've gotten the sow by the wrong ear."
"Supposing I have gotten a sow at all," said the stranger complacently. "Will you present to me the right ear?"
Not understanding the nature of the request, the man continued playing on the same string.