; "but tell me how it happened that the noise
which I have been making did not awake you; for three-quarters of an hour
at least I was hammering close at your ear." "I heard you all the time,"
said the postillion, "but your hammering made me sleep all the sounder; I
am used to hear hammering in my morning sleep. There's a forge close by
the room where I sleep when I'm at home, at my inn; for we have all kinds
of conveniences at my inn--forge, carpenter's shop, and
wheel-wright's,--so that when I heard you hammering I thought, no doubt,
that it was the old noise, and that I was comfortable in my bed at my own
inn." We now ascended to the field, where I showed the postillion his
chaise. He looked at the pin attentively, rubbed his hands, and gave a
loud laugh. "Is it not well done?" said I. "It will do till I get
home," he replied. "And that is all you have to say?" I demanded. "And
that's a good deal," said he, "considering who made it. But don't be
offended," he added, "I shall prize it all the more for its being made by
a gentleman, and no blacksmith; and so will my governor, when I show it
to him. I shan't let it remain where it is, but will keep it, as a
remembrance of you, as long as I live." He then again rubbed his hands
with great glee, and said, "I will now go and see after my horses, and
then to breakfast, partner, if you please." Suddenly, however, looking
at his hands, he said, "Before sitting down to breakfast I am in the
habit of washing my hands and face: I suppose you could not furnish me
with a little soap and water." "As much water as you please," said I,
"but if you want soap, I must go and trouble the young gentle-woman for
some." "By no means," said the postillion, "water will do at a pinch."
"Follow me," said I, and leading him to the pond of the frogs and newts,
I said, "this is my ewer; you are welcome to part of it--the water is so
soft that it is scarcely necessary to add soap to it;" then lying down on
the bank, I plunged my head into the water, then scrubbed my hands and
face, and afterwards wiped them with some long grass which grew on the
margin of the pond. "Bravo," said the postillion, "I see you know how to
make a shift:" he then followed my example, declared he never felt more
refreshed in his life, and, giving a bound, said, "he would go and look
after his horses."

We then went to look after the horses, which we found not much the worse
for having spent the night in the o