Page 66 (1/2)

The Jaunty Hat "Lord, but this is a great day for the old 'Cow,' sir," said the

landlord, as Barnabas yet stood staring down the road, "we aren't

had so

Vi-count, this ht and early, Sir Morti o' you, sir, an' now you an'

Sir Mortimer's friend; you don't be no ways acquainted wi' Sir

Mortimer's friend, be you, sir?"

"No," answered Barnabas, "what is his name?"

"Well, Sir Mortih

I aren't prepared to swear it, no

properly ob-served, but 'Chichester,' I think it were; and, 'twixt

you an' entlemen as I aren't no

wise partial to, an' he's ordered dinner and supper"

"Has he," said Barnabas, "then I think I'll do the saood"

"In the meantime could you let me have pen, ink and paper?"

"Ay, sir, surely, in the sanded parlor, this way, sir"

Forthwith he led Barnabas into a long, low panelled room, with a

wide fireplace at the further end, beside which stood a great

high-backed settle with a table before it Then Barnabas sat down

and wrote a letter to his father, as here follows:-My Dear Father and Natty Bell,--I have read somewhere in my books