"Lord bless me, your Worship, I could not travel that, with an empty cart, and all downhill!"
"Never mind, Cripps. Will you try to listen, and offer no observation?"
"To say nort,—does your Worship mean? Well, all our family be esteemed for that."
"Then prove the justice of that esteem; for I have a long story to tell you, Cripps, and no long time to do it in."
CHAPTER XVIII.
A FLASH OF LIGHT.
The Carrier, with a decisive gesture, ceased from both solid and liquid food, and settled his face, and whole body, and members into a grim and yet flexible aspect, as if he were driving a half-broken horse, and must be prepared for any sort of start. And yet with all this he reconciled a duly receptive deference, and a pleasant readiness, as if he were his own Dobbin, just fresh from stable.
"I need not tell you, Master Cripps," said Russel, "how I have picked up the many little things, which have been coming to my knowledge lately. And I will not be too positive about any of them; because I made such a mistake in the beginning of this inquiry. All my suspicions at first were set on a man who was purely innocent—a legal gentleman of fair repute, to whom I have now made all honourable amends. In the most candid manner he has forgiven me, and desires no better than to act in the best faith with us."
"Asking your pardon for interrupting—did the gentleman happen to have a sharp name?"
"Yes, Cripps, he did. But no more of that. I was over sharp myself, no doubt; he is thoroughly blameless, and more than that, his behaviour has been most generous, most unwearying, most—— I never can do justice to him."
"Well, your Worship, no—perhaps not. A would take a rare sharp un to do so."