And I heard Bumpkin mutter to himself that “he’d he danged if this ’ere feller wur so young as he made out—his ’ead wur a mighty dale older nor his body.”
CHAPTER X.
The last night before the first London expedition, which gives occasion to recall pleasant reminiscences.
“I, Bumpkin, make oath and say,” having been duly presented, and the Commissioner having duly placed the Testament in Mr. Bumpkin’s hands, and said to him that to the best of his knowledge and belief the contents of the “I Bumpkin” paper were true, the matter was over, and Mr. Snigger, with the valuable document in his possession, might have returned to London by the next train. But as Horatio afterwards observed to a friend, he “was not quite so green.” It was market day; Mr. Bumpkin was a genial companion, and had asked him to partake of the Market Ordinary. So thither at one o’clock they repaired, and a very fine dinner the pale youth disposed of. It seemed in proportion to the wonderful brief whose merits they had previously discussed. More and more did Horatio think that a farmer’s life was the life for him. He had never seen such “feeding;” more and more would he like that month on trial in the country; more and more inclined was he to throw up the whole blessed law at once and for ever. This partly-formed resolution he communicated to Mr. Bumpkin, and assured him that, but for the case of Bumpkin v. Snooks, he would do so on that very afternoon, and wash his hands of it.
“I don’t want,” said he, “to leave you in the lurch, Mr. Bumpkin, or else I’d cut it at once, and throw this affidavit into the fire.”
“Come, come,” said the farmer, “thee beest a young man, don’t do nowt that be wrong—stick to thy employer like a man, and when thee leaves, leave like a man.”
“As soon as your case is over, I shall hook it, Mr. Bumpkin. And now let me see—you’ll have to come to London in a week or two, for I am pretty nigh sure we shall be in the paper by that time. I shall see you when you come up—where shall you stay?”
“Danged if I know; I be a straanger in Lunnun.”
“Well, now, look ’ere, Mr. Bumpkin, I can tell you of a very nice quiet public-house in Westminster where you’ll be at home; the woman, I believe, comes from your part of the country, and so does the landlord.”
“What be the naame o’ the public ’ouse?” asked Mr. Bumpkin.