nd last, not
least, a capital old inn, where I got a capital dinner off roast Durham
beef, and a capital glass of ale, which I believe was the cause, of my
being ever after fond of ale."

"Dear me! Ah, I see your honour knows all about Durham city. And now
let me ask one question. How came your honour to Durham, city and
county? I don't think your honour is a Durham man either of town or
field."

"I am not; but when I was a little boy I passed through Durham county
with my mother and brother to a place called Scotland."

"Scotland! a queer country that, your honour!"

"So it is," said I; "a queerer country I never saw in all my life."

"And a queer set of people, your honour."

"So they are," said I; "a queerer set of people than the Scotch you would
scarcely see in a summer's day."

"The Durham folks, neither of town or field, have much reason to speak
well of the Scotch, your honour."

"I dare say not," said I; "very few people have."

"And yet the Durham folks, your honour, generally contrived to give them
as good as they brought."

"That they did," said I; "a pretty licking the Durham folks once gave the
Scots under the walls of Durham city, after the scamps had been
plundering the country for three weeks--a precious licking they gave
them, slaying I don't know how many thousands, and taking their king
prisoner."

"So they did, your honour, and under the command of a woman too."

"Very true," said I; "Queen Philippa."

"Just so, your honour! The idea that your honour should know so much
about Durham, both field and town!"

"Well," said I, "since I have told you so much about Durham, perhaps you
will tell me something about yourself. How did you come here?"

"I had better begin from the beginning, your honour. I was born in
Durham county close beside the Great Force, which no doubt your honour
has seen. My father was a farmer, and had a bit of a share in a mining
concern. I was brought up from my childhood both to farming and mining
work, but most to mining, because, do you see, I took most pleasure in
it, being the more noble business of the two. Shortly after I had come
to man's estate my father died, leaving me a decent little property,
whereupon I forsook farming altogether and gave myself up, body, soul,
and capital, to mining, which at last I thoroughly understand in all its
branches. Well, your honour, about five-and-thirty years ago--that was
when I was about twenty-eight--a cry