When Dick had seen the doctor fairly started on his journey, he turned his steps to the little inn, entered it, and ordered breakfast.
“And have my horse well rubbed down and watered and fed. I must mount him again in an hour,” he added.
At this time of the day there always happened to be more servants than guests at the “Foaming Tankard,” and so Dick and his horse were both promptly served.
But while Mr. Hammond sat enjoying the fragrant coffee, light rolls, sweet butter, luscious ham and fresh eggs that formed the repast, for which his early ride had given him so keen an appetite, he was suddenly interrupted.
It was “mammy” who burst in upon his privacy with more haste than ceremony, demanding:
“If you please, sir, wasn’t you the gentleman as come down with us in the night coach from Drainsville and got off at Frostville?”
“Yes! and wasn’t you the lady that scalped me and broke both my legs?” laughed Dick.
“I hope you surwived it, sir? But that wasn’t what I comed to ax you.”
“Yes; having a good constitution, I got over it. But what did you come to ask me?”
“Please, sir, no offence; but is it as the boys say, you come from Old Lyon Hall this morning?”