a body down
yourself; but I'll offer something more to the purpose. As my business
is wonderfully on the increase, I shall want somebody to help me in
serving my customers, and keeping them in order. If you choose to come
and serve for your board, and what they'll give you, give me your fist;
or if you like ten shillings a week better than their sixpences and
ha'pence, only say so--though, to be open with you, I believe you would
make twice ten shillings out of them--the sneaking, fawning,
curry-favouring humbugs!"

"I am much obliged to you," said I, "for your handsome offer, which,
however, I am obliged to decline."

"Why so?" said the landlord.

"I am not fit for service," said I; "moreover, I am about to leave this
part of the country." As I spoke, a horse neighed in the stable. "What
horse is that?" said I.

"It belongs to a cousin of mine, who put it into my hands yesterday, in
hopes that I might get rid of it for him, though he would no more have
done so a week ago, when he considered me a down pin, than he would have
given the horse away. Are you fond of horses?"

"Very much," said I.

"Then come and look at it." He led me into the stable, where, in a
stall, stood a noble-looking animal.

"Dear me," said I, "I saw this horse at . . . fair."

"Like enough," said the landlord; "he was there, and was offered for
seventy pounds, but didn't find a bidder at any price. What do you think
of him?"

"He's a splendid creature."

"I am no judge of horses," said the landlord; "but I am told he's a first-
rate trotter, good leaper, and has some of the blood of Syntax. What
does all that signify?--the game is against his master, who is a down
pin, is thinking of emigrating, and wants money confoundedly. He asked
seventy pounds at the fair; but, between ourselves, he would be glad to
take fifty here."

"I almost wish," said I, "that I were a rich squire."

"You would buy him then," said the landlord. Here he mused for some
time, with a very profound look. "It would be a rum thing," said he,
"if, some time or other, that horse should come into your hands. Didn't
you hear how he neighed when you talked about leaving the country. My
granny was a wise woman, and was up to all kind of signs and wonders,
sounds and noises, the interpretation of the language of birds and
animals, crowing and lowing, neighing and braying. If she had been here,
she would have said at once that that horse was fated to carr