smock frock,
with a pitchfork in his hand, came up and, taking his station a little
on one side, began to view him from head to foot, scratching his head
and grinning. Our youth was startled and blushed, but said nothing, and
affected firmness; yet he imagined he had seen the man's face before.
The arrival of the wagoner afforded him a seasonable relief, and he
returned with him into the inn kitchen, where breakfast was got ready
and John was invited to sit down and eat. He had hardly swallowed two
mouthfuls when he of the pitchfork, having left his hat and his
instrument aside, entered, and, taking his station at the dresser,
continued to gaze upon him, still scratching his pate and looking
significantly. Our adventurer was sadly disconcerted, but concealed his
emotions so that they were not observed, till breakfast was over, when
the rustic took an opportunity to beckon to him with an intimation to
follow him. They proceeded to the stable, where after carefully looking
out of the back door to see that nobody was near them, the rustic
without any preface said, "I'll tell thee what--thee art Jacky
Meadowcroft!--I know thee as well as I do that horse that stonds there
before my eyes; so don't you go vor to tell loies about it, or to deny
it." Hodgkinson who, though he might be startled, was not to be
intimidated, asked the fellow sturdily, and with a dash of stage
loftiness, what it was to him who he was, or what his name; upon which
the other rather abashed said, "No harm I assure thee Jack, nor hurt
would I do thee for ever so much: but I fear thee be'est upon no good:
now don't think hard of me, but do thee tell me, what prank art thee
upon here?--where dids't thee get those foin clothes?"--To this our
adventurer gave no answer but a look of haughty resentment, putting his
arms akimbo, elevating his head and neck, and finishing with a
contemptuous sneer of the right barn-buskin kind. "Nay, now," said the
other, "I am sure of it. Yes, Jack Meadowcroft thee hast left thy honest
parents, and mixed with the strolling fellers--the play actors,--a pize
upon them, with their tricks, making honest folks laugh to pick their
pockets."

Our youth now saw that it would be useless to persevere in concealment,
and said to the other with a good-humoured cheerful air, "Who are you
who know me so well, and seem so much concerned about me?" "My name be
Jack as well as thine," replied the honest-hearted bumpkin. Hodgkinson
then discov