s nephew, and lives in the cottage,
a little further down."

"Thank you, I'll look him up. But, hang me, if I like to leave--with
such attractions here I do not care to leave."

After standing, considering a moment, hardly taking his eyes off
Mehetabel, he said--"My pretty little hostess, if ever I begrudged
a man in my life, I begrudge Jonas Kink--his wife. Come and tell me
when you find him intolerable, and see if I cannot professionally
help you to be rid of such a curmudgeon. Who knows?--the time may
come! My name is Markham."

Then he departed.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE PICTURE.

Meanwhile Bideabout was on his way to the town of Guildford. He
made slow progress, for old Clutch had no mind for speed. The horse
was mistrustful as to whither he was going, and how he would be
treated on reaching his destination. No amount of beating availed.
He had laid on his winter growth of hair, which served as a mat,
breaking the force of the strokes administered. He was proof against
kicks, for whenever Jonas extended his legs for the purpose of
bringing his heels sharply against the sides of Clutch, the old
horse drew a deep inspiration and blew himself out; thus blunting
the force of the heels driven into him.

At length, however, Jonas and old Clutch did reach Guildford. To
old Clutch's great astonishment he found himself in a town new to
him, more populous than Godalming; and being strongly convinced
that he had done enough, and that every house was an inn open to
receive him, and being eager to make himself comfortable, he
endeavored to carry his master into a china-shop, then into a
linen-draper's shop, and next into a green-grocer's.

Jonas was constrained to stable his obstinate steed in the first
tavern he came to, and to make the rest of his way on foot.

Guildford is, to this day, a picturesque old town, dominated by
the ruins of a fine royal castle, and with a quaint Grammar School
and hospital. At the present time it is going through immense
transformation. It has become a favorite retiring place for old
officers of the army, supplanting in this respect Cheltenham. But
at the period of this tale it was a sleepy, ancient, county town
that woke to life on market days, and rested through the remainder
of the week. It did not work six days and keep one Sabbath, but
held the Sabbath for six days and woke to activity on one only.

Now nobody quite knows who are all the new people that flow into
the villas