landlord；〃 said Tressilian。
〃Oh； sir； we will keep measure； but I wonder not that you are
jealous of them all。May I crave to know with what aspect the
fair lady at the Place yesterday received you？〃
〃I own；〃 said Tressilian； 〃it was angry as well as confused； and
affords me little hope that she is yet awakened from her unhappy
delusion。〃
〃In that case； sir； I see not why you should play the champion of
a wench that will none of you； and incur the resentment of a
favourite's favourite； as dangerous a monster as ever a knight
adventurer encountered in the old story books。〃
〃You do me wrong in the supposition； mine hostgross wrong；〃
said Tressilian； 〃I do not desire that Amy should ever turn
thought upon me more。 Let me but see her restored to her father；
and all I have to do in Europeperhaps in the worldis over and
ended。〃
〃A wiser resolution were to drink a cup of sack； and forget her；〃
said the landlord。 〃But five…and…twenty and fifty look on those
matters with different eyes； especially when one cast of peepers
is set in the skull of a young gallant； and the other in that of
an old publican。 I pity you； Master Tressilian； but I see not
how I can aid you in the matter。〃
〃Only thus far； mine host；〃 replied Tressilian〃keep a watch on
the motions of those at the Place； which thou canst easily learn
without suspicion； as all men's news fly to the ale…bench； and be
pleased to communicate the tidings in writing to such person； and
to no other； who shall bring you this ring as a special token。
Look at it； it is of value； and I will freely bestow it on you。〃
〃Nay； sir；〃 said the landlord； 〃I desire no recompensebut it
seems an unadvised course in me； being in a public line； to
connect myself in a matter of this dark and perilous nature。 I
have no interest in it。〃
〃You； and every father in the land； who would have his daughter
released from the snares of shame； and sin； and misery； have an
interest deeper than aught concerning earth only could create。〃
〃Well； sir；〃 said the host； 〃these are brave words； and I do pity
from my soul the frank…hearted old gentleman； who has minished
his estate in good housekeeping for the honour of his country；
and now has his daughter； who should be the stay of his age； and
so forth； whisked up by such a kite as this Varney。 And though
your part in the matter is somewhat of the wildest； yet I will
e'en be a madcap for company； and help you in your honest attempt
to get back the good man's child； so far as being your faithful
intelligencer can serve。 And as I shall be true to you； I pray
you to be trusty to me； and keep my secret； for it were bad for
the custom of the Black Bear should it be said the bear…warder
interfered in such matters。 Varney has interest enough with the
justices to dismount my noble emblem from the post on which he
swings so gallantly； to call in my license； and ruin me from
garret to cellar。〃
〃Do not doubt my secrecy； mine host；〃 said Tressilian； 〃I will
retain； besides； the deepest sense of thy service； and of the
risk thou dost runremember the ring is my sure token。 And now；
farewell！ for it was thy wise advice that I should tarry here as
short a time as may be。〃
〃Follow me； then； Sir Guest；〃 said the landlord； 〃and tread as
gently as if eggs were under your foot； instead of deal boards。
No man must know when or how you departed。〃
By the aid of his dark lantern he conducted Tressilian； as soon
as he had made himself ready for his journey； through a long
intricacy of passages； which opened to an outer court； and from
thence to a remote stable； where he had already placed his
guest's horse。 He then aided him to fasten on the saddle the
small portmantle which contained his necessaries； opened a
postern door； and with a hearty shake of the hand； and a
reiteration of his promise to attend to what went on at Cumnor
Place； he dismissed his guest to his solitary journey。
CHAPTER IX。
Far in the lane a lonely hut he found；
No tenant ventured on the unwholesome ground：
Here smokes his forge； he bares his sinewy arm；
And early strokes the sounding anvil warm；
Around his shop the steely sparkles flew；
As for the steed he shaped the bending shoe。 GAY'S TRIVIA。
As it was deemed proper by the traveller himself； as well as by
Giles Gosling； that Tressilian should avoid being seen in the
neighbourhood of Cumnor by those whom accident might make early
risers； the landlord had given him a route； consisting of various
byways and lanes； which he was to follow in succession； and
which； all the turns and short…cuts duly observed； was to conduct
him to the public road to Marlborough。
But； like counsel of every other kind； this species of direction
is much more easily given than followed； and what betwixt the
intricacy of the way； the darkness of the night； Tressilian's
ignorance of the country； and the sad and perplexing thoughts
with which he had to contend； his journey proceeded so slowly；
that morning found him only in the vale of Whitehorse； memorable
for the defeat of the Danes in former days； with his horse
deprived of a fore…foot shoe； an accident which threatened to put
a stop to his journey by laming the animal。 The residence of a
smith was his first object of inquiry； in which he received
little satisfaction from the dullness or sullenness of one or two
peasants； early bound for their labour； who gave brief and
indifferent answers to his questions on the subject。 Anxious； at
length； that the partner of his journey should suffer as little
as possible from the unfortunate accident； Tressilian dismounted；
and led his horse in the direction of a little hamlet； where he
hoped either to find or hear tidings of such an artificer as he
now wanted。 Through a deep and muddy lane； he at length waded on
to the place； which proved only an assemblage of five or six
miserable huts； about the doors of which one or two persons；
whose appearance seemed as rude as that of their dwellings； were
beginning the toils of the day。 One cottage； however； seemed of
rather superior aspect； and the old dame； who was sweeping her
threshold； appeared something less rude than her neighbours。 To
her Tressilian addressed the oft…repeated question； whether there
was a smith in this neighbourhood； or any place where he could
refresh his horse？ The dame looked him in the face with a
peculiar expression as she replied； 〃Smith！ ay； truly is there a
smithwhat wouldst ha' wi' un； mon？〃
〃To shoe my horse； good dame；〃 answered Tressiliany： you may see
that he has thrown a fore…foot shoe。〃
〃Master Holiday！〃 exclaimed the dame； without returning any
direct answer〃Master Herasmus Holiday； come and speak to mon；
and please you。〃
〃FAVETE LINGUIS；〃 answered a voice from within；〃 I cannot now
come forth； Gammer Sludge； being in the very sweetest bit of my
morning studies。〃
〃Nay； but； good now； Master Holiday； come ye out； do ye。 Here's
a mon would to Wayland Smith； and I care not to show him way to
devil； his horse hath cast shoe。〃
〃QUID MIHI CUM CABALLO？〃 replied the man of learning from
within； 〃I think there is but one wise man in the hundred； and
they cannot shoe a horse without him！〃
And forth came the honest pedagogue； for such his dress bespoke
him。 A long； lean； shambling； stooping figure was surmounted by
a head thatched with lank； black hair somewhat inclining to grey。
His features had the cast of habitual authority； which I suppose
Dionysius carried with him from the throne to the schoolmaster's
pulpit； and bequeathed as a legacy to all of the same profession；
A black buckram cassock was gathered at his middle with a belt；
at which hung； instead of knife or weapon； a goodly leathern pen…
and…ink case。 His ferula was stuck on the other side； like
Harlequin's wooden sword； and he carried in his hand the tattered
volume which he had been busily perusing。
On seeing a person of Tressilian's appearance； which he was
better able to estimate than the country folks had been； the
schoolmaster unbonneted； and accosted him with； 〃SALVE； DOMINE。
INTELLIGISNE LINGUAM LATINAM？〃
Tressilian mustered his learning to reply； 〃LINGUAE LATINAE HAUD
PENITUS IGNARUS； VENIA TUA； DOMINE ERUDITISSIME； VERNACULAM
LIBENTIUS LOQUOR。〃
The Latin reply had upon the schoolmaster the effect which the
mason's sign is said to produce on the brethren of the trowel。
He was at once interested in the learned traveller； listened with
gravity to his story of a tired horse and a lost shoe； and then
replied with solemnity； 〃It may appear a simple thing； most
worshipful； to reply to you that there dwells； within a brief
mile of these TUGURIA； the best FABER FERARIUS； the most
accomplished blacksmith； that ever nailed iron upon horse。 Now；
were I to say so； I warrant me you would think yourself COMPOS
VOTI； or； as the vulgar have it； a made man。〃
〃I should at least；〃 said Tressilian； 〃have a direct answer to a
plain question； which seems difficult to be obtained in this
country。〃
〃It is a mere sending of a sinful soul to the evil un；〃 said the
old woman； 〃the sending a living creature to Wayland Smith。〃
〃Peace； Gammer Sludge！〃 said the pedago