The Broad Highway

Slipping my knapsack from my shoulders, I sat down at a small

table in a corner while the man, with a final kick at the fire,

went to give my order. In a few minutes he reappeared with some

billets of wood beneath his arm, and followed by a merry-eyed,

rosy-cheeked lass, who proceeded, very deftly, to lay a snowy

cloth and thereupon in due season, a dish of savory ham and

golden-yolked eggs.

"It's a lovely morning!" said I, lifting my eyes to her comely face.

"It is indeed, sir," said she, setting down the cruet with a turn

of her slender wrist.

"Which I make so bold as to deny," said the surly man, dropping

the wood on the hearth with a prodigious clatter, "'ow can any

morning be lovely when there ain't no love in it--no, not so much

as would fill a thimble? I say it ain't a lovely morning, not by

no manner o' means, and what I says I ain't ashamed on, being a

nat'rally truthful man!" With which words he sighed, kicked the

fire again, and stumped out.

"Our friend would seem somewhat gloomy this morning," said I.

"He've been that way a fortnight now, come Satu'day," replied

the slim lass, nodding.

"Oh?" said I.

"Yes," she continued, checking a smile, and sighing instead;

"it's very sad, he've been crossed in love you see, sir."

"Poor fellow!" said I, "can't you try to console him?"

"Me, sir--oh no!"

"And why not? I should think you might console a man for a

great deal."

"Why, you see, sir," said she, blushing and dimpling very

prettily, "it do so happen as I'm the one as crossed him."

"Ah!--I understand," said I.

"I'm to be married to a farmer--down the road yonder; leastways,

I haven't quite made up my mind yet."

"A fine, tall fellow?" I inquired.

"Yes--do 'ee know him, sir?"

"With a handsome pair of black whiskers?" said I.

"The very same, sir, and they do be handsome whiskers, though I

do say it."

"The finest I ever saw. I wish you every happiness," said I.

"Thankee sir, I'm sure," said she, and, dimpling more prettily

than ever, she tripped away, and left me to my repast.

And when I had assuaged my hunger, I took out the pipe of Adam,

the groom, the pipe shaped like a negro's head, and, calling for a

paper of tobacco, I filled and lighted the pipe, and sat staring

dreamily out of the window.