nd more inclined was he to throw up the whole blessed law
at once and for ever. This partly-formed resolution he communicated to
Mr. Bumpkin, and assured him that, but for the case of _Bumpkin_ v.
_Snooks_, he would do so on that very afternoon, and wash his hands of
it.

"I don't want," said he, "to leave you in the lurch, Mr. Bumpkin, or else
I'd cut it at once, and throw this affidavit into the fire."

"Come, come," said the farmer, "thee beest a young man, don't do nowt
that be wrong--stick to thy employer like a man, and when thee leaves,
leave like a man."

"As soon as your case is over, I shall hook it, Mr. Bumpkin. And now let
me see--you'll have to come to London in a week or two, for I am pretty
nigh sure we shall be in the paper by that time. I shall see you when
you come up--where shall you stay?"

"Danged if I know; I be a straanger in Lunnun."

"Well, now, look 'ere, Mr. Bumpkin, I can tell you of a very nice quiet
public-house in Westminster where you'll be at home; the woman, I
believe, comes from your part of the country, and so does the landlord."

"What be the naame o' the public 'ouse?" asked Mr. Bumpkin.

"It's the sign of the 'Goose,' and stands just a little way off from the
water-side."

"The Goose" sounded countryfied and homelike, and being near the water
would be pleasant, and the landlord and landlady being Somersetshire
people would also be pleasant.

"Be it a dear plaace?" he inquired.

"Oh, no; dirt cheap."

"Ah, that air _dirt_ cheap I doan't like--I likes it a bit clean like."

"Oh, yes, clean as a smelt--clean as ever it can be; and I'll bespeak
your lodgings for you if you like, and all."

"Well, thankee, sir, thankee," said the farmer, shaking hands with the
youth, and giving him a half-sovereign. "I be proud to know thee." And
thus they parted: Horatio returning to his office, and Mr. Bumpkin
driving home at what is called a "shig-shog" pace, reflecting upon all
the events that had transpired during that memorable day.

Pretty much the same as ever went on the things at the farm, and the
weeks passed by, and the autumn was over, and Christmas Day came and
went, and the Assizes came and went, and _Bumpkin_ v. _Snooks_ alone in
all the world seemed to stand still. One day in the autumn a friend of
Mr. Prigg's came and asked the favour of a day's fishing, which was
granted with Mr. Bumpkin's usual cordiality. He was not only to fish on
that day, but to come whene