The cottage, as I have said, was entirely hidden from the chance
observer by reason of the foliage: ash, alder, and bramble
flourished luxuriantly, growing very thick and high, with here
and there a great tree; but, upon one side, there was a little
grassy glade, or clearing rather, some ten yards square, and it
was towards this that my eyes were directed as I reseated myself
upon the settle beside the door, and waited the coming of the
unknown.
Though the shadows were too deep for my eyes to serve me, yet I
could follow the newcomer's approach quite easily by the sound he
made; indeed, I was particularly struck by the prodigious
rustling of leaves. Whoever it was must be big and bulky, I
thought, and clad, probably, in a long, trailing garment.
All at once I knew I was observed, for the sounds ceased, and I
heard nothing save the distant bark of a dog and the ripple of
the brook near by.
I remained there for, maybe, a full minute, very still, only my
fists clenched themselves as I sat listening and waiting--and
that minute was an hour.
"You won't be wantin' ever a broom, now?"
The relief was so sudden and intense that I had much ado to keep
from laughing outright.
"You won't be wantin' ever a broom, now?" inquired the voice
again.
"No," I answered, "nor yet a fine leather belt with a steel
buckle made in Brummagem as ever was."
"Oh, it's you, is it?" said the Pedler, and forthwith Gabbing
Dick stepped out of the shadows, brooms on shoulder and bulging
pack upon his back, at sight of which the leafy tumult of his
approach was immediately accounted for. "So it's you, is it?" he
repeated, setting down his brooms and spitting lugubriously at
the nearest patch of shadow.
"Yes," I answered, "but what brings you here?"
"I be goin' to sleep 'ere, my chap."
"Oh!--you don't mind the ghost, then?"
"Oh, Lord, no! Theer be only two things as I can't abide--trees
as ain't trees is one on em, an' women's t' other."
"Women?"
"Come, didn't I 'once tell you I were married?"
"You did."
"Very well then! Trees as ain't trees is bad enough, Lord
knows!--but women's worse--ah!" said the Pedler, shaking his
head, "a sight worse! Ye see, trees ain't got tongues--leastways
not as I ever heerd tell on, an' a tree never told a lie--or ate
a apple, did it?"