| 122 | 123 | 124 | 125 | 126 |
| 1 | 133 | 265 | 398 | 530 |
|
'
Trotters,' said Mr Codlin, who talked very slowly and ate very greedily,
as is not uncommon with philosophers and misanthropes; 'you're too
free.'
'
Why what harm can it do?' urged the other. 'No harm at all in this
particular case, perhaps,' replied Mr Codlin; 'but the principle's a
dangerous one, and you're too free I tell you.'
'
'
Well, are they to go with us or not?'
Yes, they are,' said Mr Codlin; 'but you might have made a favour of
it, mightn't you?'
The real name of the little man was Harris, but it had gradually
merged into the less euphonious one of Trotters, which, with the
prefatory adjective, Short, had been conferred upon him by reason of
the small size of his legs. Short Trotters however, being a compound
name, inconvenient of use in friendly dialogue, the gentleman on
whom it had been bestowed was known among his intimates either as
'
Short,' or 'Trotters,' and was seldom accosted at full length as Short
Trotters, except in formal conversations and on occasions of
ceremony.
Short, then, or Trotters, as the reader pleases, returned unto the
remonstrance of his friend Mr Thomas Codlin a jocose answer
calculated to turn aside his discontent; and applying himself with
great relish to the cold boiled beef, the tea, and bread and butter,
strongly impressed upon his companions that they should do the like.
Mr Codlin indeed required no such persuasion, as he had already
eaten as much as he could possibly carry and was now moistening his
clay with strong ale, whereof he took deep draughts with a silent
relish and invited nobody to partake - thus again strongly indicating
his misanthropical turn of mind.
Breakfast being at length over, Mr Codlin called the bill, and charging
the ale to the company generally (a practice also savouring of
misanthropy) divided the sum-total into two fair and equal parts,
assigning one moiety to himself and friend, and the other to Nelly and
her grandfather. These being duly discharged and all things ready for
their departure, they took farewell of the landlord and landlady and
resumed their journey.
And here Mr Codlin's false position in society and the effect it wrought
upon his wounded spirit, were strongly illustrated; for whereas he had
been last night accosted by Mr Punch as 'master,' and had by
inference left the audience to understand that he maintained that
individual for his own luxurious entertainment and delight, here he
was, now, painfully walking beneath the burden of that same Punch's
Page
Quick Jump
|