There were, however, one or two little matters to be arranged,
before Isaac could give himself up to his journey in search of fresh
experience. One was to endeavour to find a tenant for his lodgings
during the time that he would be absent from them, because it would
never do for him to pay for the use of two beds and sleep only in
one. But in this he met with no difficulty; for on his popping the
question (not matrimonially of course) to Mrs Clappen, his landlady,
she immediately averred that the circumstance was providential. Isaac
himself did not quite see how Providence was likely to be interested in
so mundane a matter as lodgings to let, so ventured to ask why.
Mrs Clappen explained. 'Well, sir,' said she, 'a young gent which
is quite a stranger to me, looked in the shop, you see, yesterday
mornin'--yes, it must ha' been in the mornin' time, for Mrs Swaller
had jest come in for to get some Epsin salts for her little boy, which
is things I don't 'old no belief in myself, though sellin' 'em for the
benefit, as you may say, of them as does; and I was jest a-asking Mrs
Swaller if she wouldn't have a packet or two of grits to make a little
gruel in order to comfort her little boy's stumick, as you may say,
and she was jest a-sayin' as her youngest child's teeth, which is a
twelvemonth old come next Sunday week at a little afore two, wasn't
doing as she could wish, when this gent, which is a stranger to me,
as you may say, looked in the door, and says: "Ladies," he says--them
was his words--"Ladies, I am hextremely sorry to disturb you, more
particular in your maternal simperthisin's," he says; "but does
either of you ladies 'appen to know whether anybody 'appens to 'ave a
good-sized room, or two small uns adjoining, which would be equally
convenient, ladies," he says, "to let at a lowish figure for about a
month or so in a week or two, ladies."
'We was naturally taken with 'is _h_air and that; and I says to Mrs
Swaller: "Do you know of any think that would do for this 'ere gent?" I
says. "Well, no, I don't, not 'ereabouts," she says; "but I 'eard Mrs
Speller, what lives up agen the 'pike, say as 'ow she wouldn't mind
meetin' with a genteel party, which of course we 'ave 'ere," she says,
alludin' to 'is _h_air; "but that's a couple of mile furder on," she
says, "and might be too far for the gentleman. And besides," she says,
"she couldn't board him, and that might be naturally ill-convenient."
And the gent, he says, with a pleasant smile, quite afferble: "Ladies,
I mustn't be no furder away from Dambourne town than this," he says;
"and if you don't know of nothink else, ladies," he says, with a
hamiable smile, "'ere's my address," he says, "in case you 'appen to
'ear of anythink.--Good mornin', ladies," he says; and with that he
went off, as you may say.' Mrs Clappen, quite out of breath, wiped her
face with her apron as she concluded her narrative.
After a few questions from Isaac as to what the person was like, and
if Mrs Clappen thought he would take care of the place, and not wear
the carpet out, and so on, it was settled that she should write to
Mr Scamplin, for such was his name, offering him her apartments for
six weeks certain, at the same price her present lodger was paying;
and stating that they would be at his disposal at that day week, if
he liked to take them, and on his giving two references; Mrs Clappen
declaring that she ''ad no doubt from 'is _h_air' that all would be
satisfactory, and that Mr Scamplin would come to terms.
The following morning, found Isaac with his tailor--Mr Batfid by
name--who carried on a small business at Dambourne, and who exhibited
in his window a placard (pinned on to an antique pair of hunting
breeches) announcing in faded red-and-blue characters the fact of all
orders and repairs being executed with fidelity and despatch; which
gave one the idea that any unfortunate coat or other garment that
might come under Mr Batfid's manipulation was forthwith mutilated and
murdered, a black flag being hoisted to celebrate the event. But Isaac
formed no such suspicious notions, but took himself to the industrious
proprietor, and ten o'clock found him in the agonies of measurement
with Mr Batfid--a very small man--on a chair behind him, stretching
up to his collar. These preliminaries ended, and the material (of a
good wearing colour) chosen, the small but highly respectable man of
business was all but thrown off his balance by Isaac's announcement
that he must have the complete suit home in four days from that time.
Mr Batfid declared that he did not see how he could possibly accomplish
so much in so short a time. 'For,' said he, to give weight to his
argument, 'you must remember that you are a very tall gentleman, a very
fine figure, sir, and all the seams are naturally very long.'
'It did not occur to me before,' said Isaac; 'but I ought to have gone
to the ready-made place lately opened at the corner, for I am told
their charges are very low, and there is of course no delay in getting
your things home.'
Mr Batfid hoped if he had any respect for his fine proportions that Mr
Webb would never come down to that; and finally promised, in order to
oblige a customer, that the garments should be finished by the time
named, even if he only took a few passing winks of sleep on his board
until they were completed.
Isaac having thus arranged matters with the worthy tailor, bethought
himself that he had neither invested in new boots nor a new hat for
a long time past, but had been wearing out sundry old ones, formerly
in the occupation of his mother's half-brother, lately deceased; so
betook himself to the necessary shops for providing himself with these
luxuries; and having walked past the cottages and garden-ground, took
himself and his new purchases home to his lodgings.
Two days later the post brought a letter from Mr Scamplin, engaging
Mrs Clappen's rooms, and inclosing two London references (whence also
he hailed), which were about as useful to that estimable lady as if he
had mentioned a friend in Greenland and referred her to _him_; but she
had such trust 'in 'is _h_air,' that she was sure it was all right;
and Isaac, not being of a suspicious turn of mind, fell in with her
views on the subject. So Mr Scamplin was written to, and the matter was
settled.
Isaac having given the cottages and garden-ground into the charge of an
old school-fellow of his, who was proprietor of a stationer's business
(on a very limited scale as to stationery) and a night-school (very
limited also as to learning, charges, and scholars), patiently waited
for Mr Batfid's promise to be fulfilled, and was ready for his flight.