e horse,' said I, 'is one cause of my melancholy, for I know not in
the world what to do with it.'

'Is it your own?'

'Yes,' said I, 'I may call it my own, though I borrowed the money to
purchase it.'

'Well, why don't you sell it?'

'It is not always easy to find a purchaser for a horse like this,' said
I; 'can you recommend me one?'

'I? Why, no, not exactly: but you'll find a purchaser shortly--pooh! If
you have no other cause for disquiet than that horse, cheer up, man;
don't be cast down. Have you nothing else on your mind? By-the-by,
what's become of the young woman you were keeping company with in that
queer lodging-place of yours?'

'She has left me,' said I.

'You quarrelled, I suppose?'

'No,' said I, 'we did not exactly quarrel, but we are parted.'

'Well,' replied he, 'but you will soon come together again.'

'No,' said I; 'we are parted for ever.'

'For ever! Pooh! you little know how people sometimes come together
again who think they are parted for ever. Here's something on that point
relating to myself. You remember when I told you my story in that dingle
of yours, that I mentioned a young woman, my fellow-servant when I lived
with the English family in Mumbo Jumbo's town, and how she and I, when
our foolish governors were thinking of changing their religion, agreed to
stand by each other, and be true to old Church of England, and to give
our governors warning, provided they tried to make us renegades. Well,
she and I parted soon after that, and never thought to meet again, yet we
met the other day in the fields, for she lately came to live with a great
family not far from here, and we have since agreed to marry, to take a
little farm, for we have both a trifle of money, and live together till
"death us do part." So much for parting for ever! But what do I mean by
keeping you broiling in the sun with your horse's bridle in your hand,
and you on my own ground? Do you know where you are? Why, that great
house is my inn, that is, it's my master's, the best fellow in ---. Come
along, you and your horse both will find a welcome at my inn.'

Thereupon he led the way into a large court, in which there were coaches,
chaises, and a great many people; taking my horse from me, he led it into
a nice cool stall, and fastening it to the rack, he then conducted me
into a postillion's keeping-room, which at that time chanced to be empty,
and he then fetched a pot of beer and sat down by me.