ppetite to eat it
with: aye, and though I say it, that house in the corner there, just
down by the water's edge, can supply good stuff at all times to wash
it down with, and that you know's the time of day, my master: this warm
weather makes one _dryish_ like, don't it?"

Tom thought the hint dry enough, though Bob was declaring he was almost
wet through; however, they took their road to the Fox under the Hill,
as it is termed. On entering which a good fire presented itself, and
Tallyho placed himself in front of it, in order to dry his clothes,
while Bob Martlet was busy in inquiring of the landlord for a brush to
give the gemman a wipe down, as, he observed, he had a sort of a trip up
in these wild parts--though to be sure that there was no great wonder,
for a gentleman who was near sighted, and didn't wear spectacles;
"however," continued he, "there an't no harm done; and so the gemman and
I are going to drink together--arn't we, Sir?"

Tallyho, who by this time had got well roasted by the fire-side, nodded
his assent, and Dashall inquired what he would like.

~~208~~~ "Why, my master, as for that, it's not much matter to me; a
drap of sky blue in a boulter of barley,{1} with a dollop of sweet,{2}
and a little saw dust,{3} is no bad thing according to my thinking; but
Lord bless you! if so be as how a gemman like you offers to treat Bill
Martlet,

1 A boulter of barley--a drink--or a pot of porter.

2 A dollop of sweet--sugar.

3 Saw-dust--a cant term for ginger or nutmeg grated.

why Bill Martlet never looks a gift horse in the mouth, you know, as the
old saying is; but our landlord knows how to make such rum stuff, as I
should like you to taste it--we call it hot, don't us, landlord?--Come,
lend us hold of the brush?" "Ave, and brush up, Mr. Landlord," said the
Hon. Tom Dashall; "let us have a taste of this nectar he's talking of,
for we have not much time to stop."

"Lord bless your eye sight," replied Martlet, "there an't no occasion
whatsomdever for your honours to stay--if you'll only give the order,
and push about the possibles, the business is all done. Come, shovel up
the sensible," continued he to the landlord, "mind you give us the real
double XX. I don't think your coat is any the worse, it would sarve me
for a Sunday swell toggery for a twelve-month to come yet; for our dirt
down here is as I may say clean dirt, and d------me if I don't think it
looks all the better for it."

"T