Yes, John knew the Hinkseys, and said so.
"There was a snug little hostelry in one of the Hinkseys, and, as was natural enough in young men in those days, though not over-wise; when we were tired, and hot with walking, we sometimes called in at this village inn for refreshment. I daresay you have done such a thing yourself, now and then, Mr. Tincroft, in your walks round Oxford?"
"I—I can't say that I have, sir," said John, hesitatingly. "Not that I should think it improper," he added, by way of salvo for the grey-headed clergyman; "but the truth is, I don't often take walks round Oxford."
"Ah! That accounts—and—but, at any rate, we did, and, as I tell you, we got too fond of the walk to the Hinkseys, and to dropping in at the little inn. At least, my friend did."
"Ah! I see," remarked John Tincroft, who thought he did see, but he didn't. "Your poor friend got to be too fond of—of what you call refreshments. I am sorry, I am sure."
Mr. Rubric smiled sadly. "That would have been sad enough," he said; "but that was not the rock on which he split. Didn't I say there was a rock? At any rate, there was a pretty innocent-looking young person at that little inn, who officiated as barmaid. There—can you not guess the rest?"
No, John couldn't guess, so he declared.
"We quarrelled about that young person. I told my friend he was going wrong; and we had high words and parted. Poor Frank! He was a high-spirited, noble fellow, and in one way, I wronged him. But he did a foolish thing, for all that. He went again and again. He meant to be honourable, he said; and so he was, to the backbone. He made love to the maiden, and after years and years of waiting, he married her. It was a love match from beginning to end."
"I daresay they were happy, though," said John, dreamily, "and if they were—"
"But they were not. They were ill-assorted, to begin with. Then all Frank's prospects for life were blasted; and, in short, the affair ended miserably. And now, Mr. Tincroft," added the rector, after a short silence, "you must excuse the freedom I have taken in mentioning this old and not very uncommon story to you."