FAREWELL TO THE ROMANS--THE LANDLORD AND HIS NIECE--SET OUT AS A
TRAVELLER
On reaching the plain above, I found my Romany friends breakfasting, and
on being asked by Mr. Petulengro to join them, I accepted the invitation.
No sooner was breakfast over than I informed Ursula and her husband that
they would find the property, which I had promised them, below in the
dingle, commending the little pony Ambrol to their best care. I took
leave of the whole company, which was itself about to break up camp and
to depart in the direction of London, and made the best of my way to the
public-house. I had a small bundle in my hand, and was dressed in the
same manner as when I departed from London, having left my waggoner's
slop with the other effects in the dingle. On arriving at the
public-house, I informed the landlord that I was come for my horse,
inquiring, at the same time, whether he could not accommodate me with a
bridle and saddle. He told me that the bridle and saddle, with which I
had ridden the horse on the preceding day, were at my service for a
trifle; that he had received them some time since in payment for a debt,
and that he had himself no use for them. The leathers of the bridle were
rather shabby, and the bit rusty, and the saddle was old-fashioned; but I
was happy to purchase them for seven shillings, more especially as the
landlord added a small valise, which he said could be strapped to the
saddle, and which I should find very convenient for carrying my things
in. I then proceeded to the stable, told the horse we were bound on an
expedition, and giving him a feed of corn, left him to discuss it, and
returned to the bar-room to have a little farewell chat with the landlord
and at the same time to drink with him a farewell glass of ale. Whilst
we were talking and drinking, the niece came and joined us: she was a
decent, sensible, young woman, who appeared to take a great interest in
her uncle, whom she regarded with a singular mixture of pride and
disapprobation--pride for the renown which he had acquired by his feats
of old, and disapprobation for his late imprudences. She said that she
hoped that his misfortunes would be a warning to him to turn more to his
God than he had hitherto done, and to give up cock-fighting and other
low-life practices. To which the landlord replied, that with respect to
cock-fighting he intended to give it up entirely, being determined no
longer to risk his capital upon birds, and with respect to his religious
duties he should attend the church of which he was churchwarden at least
once a quarter, adding, however, that he did not intend to become either
canter or driveller, neither of which characters would befit a publican
surrounded by such customers as he was, and that to the last day of his
life he hoped to be able to make use of his fists. After a stay of about
two hours I settled accounts; and having bridled and saddled my horse,
and strapped on the valise, I mounted, shook hands with the landlord and
his niece, and departed, notwithstanding that they both entreated me to
tarry until the evening, it being then the heat of the day.