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Evening was at hand as I reached a little alehouse well away from the road and pleasantly secluded by trees: thither caainthe open lattice, I heard loud laughter and a ossips" (quoth this voice), "as sure as this be beef--aye, and good beef and cooked to a turn,Toood ale, a woeful sight, his eyes blacked, his nose a-bleeding, his jerkin torn and a dead cat about his neck, oho--aha! Toue and ready o' fist--Toroaning, see ye, gossips, loud enough for six, wish I one, as I'et hi Tom, as have thrashed every hter ceased and a buxo face from the , and face (like her voice) was kindly when she addressedit lower over my bruised and swollen features

"Why coer and Godby the peddler, as knoweth everyone"

So I entered forthwith a s ed the salutations of the twoto and fro, soon set before me a fine joint of roast beef with bread and ale, upon which I incontinent fell to

The two men sat cheek by jowl at the farther end of the table, one a red-faced, lusty fellow, the other, a shed and yet contrived to talk all the while, that it was a wonder to behold

"Was you over to Lamberhurst way, master?" says he to me, all at once

"Aye!" I nodded, busy with the beef

"Why then, happen ye saw suipsy i' the pillory--hih did for her ladyship's coz?"

"Aye," says I again, bending over my platter

"'Tis ill sport to bait a poor soul as be helpless, I think--nay I know, for I've stood there h I won't say as I didn't clod this fellow once or twice to-day myself--I were a rare clodder in ue, master?"