His remark was overheard by Dunscomb, though intended only for the ears of the counsellor’s coachman. It drew an answer, as might have been foreseen.
“I am glad you approve of the connexion, Stephen,” said the counsellor in his good-natured way. “It is a great satisfaction to know that my nephew goes among friends.”
“Fri’nds, Sir! Admirers is a better tarm. I’m a downright admirer of Mr. Jack, he’s sich tastes; always with his dog, or his gun, or his hoss, in the country; and I dares to say, with his books in town.”
“Not just all that, Stephen; I wish it were so; but truth compels me to own that the young rogue thinks quite as much of balls, and suppers, and tailors, and the opera, as he does of Coke upon Lyttleton, or Blackstone and Kent.”
“Vell, that’s wrong,” answered Stephen, “and I’ll uphold no man in vot’s wrong, so long as I can do better. I know’d both them racers, having heard tell on ’em at the time they vos run, and I’ve beard good judges say, that timed the hosses, that Kent come in neck and neck, if justice had been done. Mr. Jack will rectify, and come to see the truth afore long—mattermony will do that much for him. It’s a great help to the seekers arter truth, is mattermony, sir!”
“That is the reason you have so much of it at Timbully, I suppose,” returned Dunscomb, nodding familiarly towards his friend the Doctor, who had heard all that was said. “If matrimony rectifies in this way, you must be three times right at home, Stephen.”
“Yes, sir,” answered the coachman, nodding his head in reply; “and when a body does better and better, as often as he tries, there’s no great harm in trying. Mr. Jack vill come round, in time.”
“I dare say he will, Stephen, when he has sown all his wild oats; though the dog pretends to like the Code, and what is more, has the impudence to say he understands it.”
“Yes, sir, all wrong, I dares to say. But Miss Anna will set him right, as a righter young lady never sat on the back seat of a coach. I wish, now we’re on the subject, ’Squire Dunscomb, to hear your ra’al opinion about them vild oats; vether they be a true thing, or merely a fancy consarning some vegetable that looks like the true feed. I’ve often heard of sich things, but never seed any.”
“Nor will you, Stephen, until the doctor turns short round, and renews his youth. Then, indeed, you may see some of the grain growing beneath your feet. It is doctor’s food.