and fro over the moor, of going to visit in the stable, or of glorifying in the tap-room for the edification of all comers, expatiating on her shape, her qualities, her speed, her mettle, and her queer temper, amenable to no authority but his own.
The captain's first acquaintance with Mrs. Dodge dated some two months back, when he entered the hostelry one stormy evening, and swaggered about the stable-yard and premises as if thoroughly familiar with the place. This did not astonish the landlady, who, herself a late arrival, concluded he was some old customer of her predecessor's; but, hazarding that natural supposition to an ancient ostler, who had been at the "Hamilton Arms" from a boy, and never slept out of the stable since he could remember, she was a little surprised to learn old Robin had no recollection whatever of the captain, though he was perfectly well acquainted with the mare. That remarkable animal had been fed and dressed over by his own hands, he declared, only last winter, and was then the property of a Quaker from the East Riding, a respectable-looking gentleman as ever he clapped eyes on—warm, no doubt, for the mare was in first-rate condition, and her master paid him from a purse full of broad pieces—a wet Quaker, old Robin thought, by reason of his smelling so strong of brandy when he mounted before daylight in the morning.
Mrs. Dodge, conversing with her guest of the wonderful mare, mentioned her old servant's reminiscences.
"Right!" exclaimed the captain, with his accustomed flourish—"right as my glove! or, I should say, my dear madam, right as your own bodice! A Quaker—very true! A man about my own size, with a—well, a prominent nose. Pale, flaxen-haired; would have been a good-looking chap with a little more colouring; and respectable—most respectable! Oh, yes! that's the Quaker I bought her of and a good bargain I made. We'll drink the Quaker's health, if you please. A very good bargain!"
And the captain laughed heartily, though Mrs. Dodge could not, for the life of her, see the point of his jest.
But, while she reprobated his profane conversation, and entertained no very profound respect for his general character, the captain was yet a welcome guest in Mrs.
