s were not come! what, in
Heaven's name, did she mean?" But he was afraid to ask for every word
he had spoken hitherto had amazed the assembly, and zoological eyes were
upon him--he felt them. He leaned against the wall, and sighed audibly.

At this fresh zoological trait, a titter went round the watchful
company.

"So this is Germany," thought Gerard; "and Germany is a great country by
Holland. Small nations for me."

He consoled himself by reflecting it was to be his last, as well as his
first, night in the land. His reverie was interrupted by an elbow driven
into his ribs. He turned sharp on his assailant, who pointed across the
room. Gerard looked, and a woman in the corner was beckoning him. He
went towards her gingerly, being surprised and irresolute, so that to a
spectator her beckoning finger seemed to be pulling him across the floor
with a gut-line. When he had got up to her, "Hold the child," said
she, in a fine hearty voice; and in a moment she plumped the bairn into
Gerard's arms.

He stood transfixed, jelly of lead in his hands, and sudden horror in
his elongated countenance.

At this ruefully expressive face, the lynx-eyed conclave laughed loud
and long.

"Never heed them," said the woman cheerfully; "they know no better;
how should they, bred an' born in a wood?" She was rummaging among her
clothes with the two penetrating hands, one of which Gerard had set
free. Presently she fished out a small tin plate and a dried pudding;
and resuming her child with one arm, held them forth to Gerard with the
other, keeping a thumb on the pudding to prevent it from slipping off.

"Put it in the stove," said she; "you are too young to lie down
fasting."

Gerard thanked her warmly. But on his way to the stove, his eye fell on
the landlady. "May I, dame?" said he beseechingly.

"Why not?" said she.

The question was evidently another surprise, though less startling than
its predecessors.

Coming to the stove, Gerard found the oven door obstructed by "the
rammish clowns." They did not budge. He hesitated a moment. The landlady
saw, calmly put down her work, and coming up, pulled a hircine man or
two hither, and pushed a hircine man or two thither, with the impassive
countenance of a housewife moving her furniture. "Turn about is fair
play," she said; "ye have been dry this ten minutes and better."

Her experienced eye was not deceived; Gorgonii had done stewing, and
begun baking. Debarred the stove, they t