The Broad Highway

"Then tell it!" said I, stopping again, struck by the fellow's

manner, "and tell it quickly."

"I'm a-comin' to it as fast as I can, ain't I? Very well then!

You're a fine, up-standin' young cove, and may 'ave white 'ands

(which I don't see myself, but no matter) and may likewise be

chock-full o' taking ways (which, though not noticin', I won't go

for to deny)--but a Eve's a Eve, and always will be--you'll mind

as I warned you again' 'em last time I see ye?--very well then!"

"Well?" said I impatiently.

"Well," nodded the Pedler, and his eyes twinkled malevolently.

"I says it again--I warns you again. You're a nice, civil-spoke

young cove, and quiet (though I don't like the cock o' your eye),

and, mind, I don't bear you no ill-will--though you did turn me

from your door on a cold, dark night--"

"It was neither a cold nor a dark night!" said I.

"Well, it might ha' been, mightn't it?--very well then! Still, I

don't," said the Pedler, spitting dejectedly into the ditch, "I

don't bear you no 'ard feelin's for it, no'ow--me always makin'

it a pint to forgive them as woefully oppresses me, likewise them

as despitefully uses me--it might ha' been cold, and dark, wi'

ice and snow, and I might ha' froze to death--but we won't say no

more about it."

"You've said pretty well, I think," said I; "supposing you tell

me what you have to tell me--otherwise--good night!"

"Very well then!" said the Pedler, "let's talk o' summ'at else;

still livin' in the 'Oller, I suppose?"

"Yes."

"Ah, well! I come through there today," said he, grinning, and

again his eyes grew malevolent.

"Indeed?"

"Ah!--indeed! I come through this 'ere very arternoon, and

uncommon pretty everythin' was lookin', wi' the grass so green,

and the trees so--so--"

"Shady."

"Shady's the word!" nodded the Pedler, glancing up at me through

his narrowed eyelids, and chuckling. "A paradise you might call

it--ah! a paradise or a--garden of Eden, wi' Eve and the serpent

and all!" and he broke out into a cackling laugh. And, in the

look and the laugh, indeed about his whole figure, there was

something so repellent, so evil, that I was minded to kick and

trample him down into the ditch, yet the leering triumph in his

eyes held me.

"Yes?" said I.