Lowell,
and he 'll teach the factory folk in their own mills; and as to the art
of stump-raisin', rotation of crops in a new soil, fattenin' hogs, and
curin' salmon, jest show me one to compare with him!"

"How sad that such a man should be lost!" said Layton, half to himself.

But the other overheard him, and rejoined: "It's always with some
sentiment of that kind you Britishers work out something for your own
benefit. You never conquer a new territory except to propagate trial
by jury and habeas corpus. Now look out here, for I won't stand you 're
steppin' in 'tween _me_ and old Poll."

It was not enough for Layton to protest that he harbored no such
intentions. Mr. Heron's experiences of mankind had inspired very
different lessons than those of trust and confidence, and he secretly
determined that no opportunity should be given to carry out the treason
he dreaded.

"When the lecturin'-room is a-clean swept out and dusted, the table
placed, and the blackboard with a piece of chalk ahind it, and the bills
a-posted, setting forth what you 're a-goin' to stump out, there ain't
no need for more. If _you_ 've got the stuff in you to amuse our folk,
you 'll see the quarter dollars a-rollin' in, in no time! If they think,
however, that you 're only come here to sell 'em grit for buckwheat,
darm me considerable, but there's lads here would treat you to a
cowhide!"

Layton did not hear this alternative with all the conscious security of
success, not to say that it was a penalty on failure far more severe
and practical than any his fears had ever anticipated. Coldness he was
prepared for, disapprobation he might endure, but he was not ready to
be treated as a cheat and impostor because he had not satisfied the
expectancies of an audience.

"I half regret," said he, "that I should not have learned something
more of your public before making my appearance to them. It may not be,
perhaps, too late."

"Well, I suspect it _is_ too late," said the other, dryly. "They
won't stand folks a-postin' up bills, and then sayin' 'There ain't no
performance.' You 're not in the Hay-market, sir, where you can come
out with a flam about sudden indisposition, and a lie signed by a
'pottecary."

"But if I leave the town?"

"I wouldn't say you mightn't, if you had a bal-loon," said the other,
laughing; "but as to any other way, I defy you!"

Layton was not altogether without the suspicion that Mr. Heron was
trying to play upon his fe