“That sounds pretty good,” said Bagby. “Just make that order for the crowd, and the squire’ll pay for it.”
While the favourite drink of the period was sizzling in the fire, Mr. Meredith recovered enough to pull out his purse and pay up the debatable levy. A moment later the steaming drink was poured into glasses, and Bagby said:—
“Now, squire, do the thing up handsome by drinking to the toast of liberty.”
“I’ll set you a better toast than that,” offered the bondsman.
“’T ain’t possible,” cried one of the crowd.
The servant raised his glass and with an ironical smile said:—
“Here ’s to liberty and fair play, gentlemen.”
“That ’s a toast we can all drink,” responded Bagby, “just as often as some one’ll pay for the liquor.”
XIII
THE WORLD IN MINIATURE
The exposure of the squire brought on a sharp attack of the gout which confined him to the house for nigh a month. Incidentally it is to be noted that his temper during this period was not confined, and when Philemon appeared one morning he was met with a reception that drove him away without a chance to plead his cause. Mrs. Meredith and Janice were compelled to listen to many descriptions as to what punitive measures their particular lord of creation intended to set in motion against the villagers when he should attend the Assembly, or when King George had reduced the land to its old-time order.