Slipping my knapsack from my shoulders, I sat down at a small
table in a corner while the man, with a final kick at the fire,
went to give my order. In a few minutes he reappeared with some
billets of wood beneath his arm, and followed by a merry-eyed,
rosy-cheeked lass, who proceeded, very deftly, to lay a snowy
cloth and thereupon in due season, a dish of savory ham and
golden-yolked eggs.
"It's a lovely morning!" said I, lifting my eyes to her comely face.
"It is indeed, sir," said she, setting down the cruet with a turn
of her slender wrist.
"Which I make so bold as to deny," said the surly man, dropping
the wood on the hearth with a prodigious clatter, "'ow can any
morning be lovely when there ain't no love in it--no, not so much
as would fill a thimble? I say it ain't a lovely morning, not by
no manner o' means, and what I says I ain't ashamed on, being a
nat'rally truthful man!" With which words he sighed, kicked the
fire again, and stumped out.
"Our friend would seem somewhat gloomy this morning," said I.
"He've been that way a fortnight now, come Satu'day," replied
the slim lass, nodding.
"Oh?" said I.
"Yes," she continued, checking a smile, and sighing instead;
"it's very sad, he've been crossed in love you see, sir."
"Poor fellow!" said I, "can't you try to console him?"
"Me, sir--oh no!"
"And why not? I should think you might console a man for a
great deal."
"Why, you see, sir," said she, blushing and dimpling very
prettily, "it do so happen as I'm the one as crossed him."
"Ah!--I understand," said I.
"I'm to be married to a farmer--down the road yonder; leastways,
I haven't quite made up my mind yet."
"A fine, tall fellow?" I inquired.
"Yes--do 'ee know him, sir?"
"With a handsome pair of black whiskers?" said I.
"The very same, sir, and they do be handsome whiskers, though I
do say it."
"The finest I ever saw. I wish you every happiness," said I.
"Thankee sir, I'm sure," said she, and, dimpling more prettily
than ever, she tripped away, and left me to my repast.
And when I had assuaged my hunger, I took out the pipe of Adam,
the groom, the pipe shaped like a negro's head, and, calling for a
paper of tobacco, I filled and lighted the pipe, and sat staring
dreamily out of the window.