gain who think they are parted for ever. Here's something on that point
relating to myself. You remember, when I told you my story in that
dingle of yours, that I mentioned a young woman, my fellow-servant when I
lived with the English family in Mumbo Jumbo's town, and how she and I,
when our foolish governors were thinking of changing their religion,
agreed to stand by each other, and be true to old Church of England, and
to give our governors warning, provided they tried to make us renegades.
Well, she and I parted soon after that, and never to meet again, yet we
met the other day in the fields, for she lately came to live with a great
family not far from here, and we have since agreed to marry, to take a
little farm, for we have both a trifle of money, and live together till
'death us do part.' So much for parting for ever! But what do I mean by
keeping you broiling in the sun with your horse's bridle in your hand,
and you on my own ground? Do you know where you are? Why, that great
house is my inn, that is, it's my master's, the best fellow in ---. Come
along, you and your horse both will find a welcome at my inn."

Thereupon he led the way into a large court in which there were coaches,
chaises, and a great many people; taking my horse from me, he led it into
a nice cool stall, and fastened it to the rack--he then conducted me into
a postillion's keeping-room, which at that time chanced to be empty, and
he then fetched a pot of beer and sat down by me.

After a little conversation he asked me what I intended to do, and I told
him frankly that I did not know; whereupon he observed that, provided I
had no objection, he had little doubt that I could be accommodated for
some time at his inn. "Our upper ostler," said he, "died about a week
ago; he was a clever fellow, and, besides his trade, understood reading
and accounts."

"Dear me," said I, interrupting him, "I am not fitted for the place of
ostler--moreover, I refused the place of ostler at a public-house, which
was offered to me only a few days ago." The postillion burst into a
laugh. "Ostler at a public-house, indeed! why, you would not compare a
berth at a place like that with the situation of ostler at my inn, the
first road-house in England! However, I was not thinking of the place of
ostler for you; you are, as you say, not fitted for it, at any rate, not
at a house like this. We have, moreover, the best under-ostler in all
England--old Bill, wit