e they ain't took less nor a hundred pound. I told un not
to." The door was unbolted and unbarred, and a long time it took, and
then stood before Mrs. Bumpkin a tall pale youth.

"I've come from Mr. Prigg."

"Will er plase to walk in, sir?" said Mrs. Bumpkin.

By this time the master had got up from his seat, and advancing towards
the youth said:--

"How do, sir; how do, sir; wark in, wark in, tak a seat, I be glad to see
thee."

"I come from Mr. Prigg," said the youth, "and we want another affidavit."

"Hem!" said Bumpkin, "be it a pig or a eifer, sir?" He couldn't forget
the old joke.

"We want an affidavit of documents," said the youth.

"And what be the manin o' that?--affiday o' what?"

"Documents, sir," said the mild youth; "here it is."

"Oh," said Bumpkin, "I got to swear un, I spoase, that's all."

"That's it, sir," said Horatio.

"Well, thee can't take oaths, I spoase."

"No, sir, not exactly."

"Wull then I spoase I must goo to --- in the marnin. And thee'll stop
here the night and mak thyself comfortable. We can gie un a bed, can't
us, Nancy?"

"Two, if ur wishes it," answered Mrs. Bumpkin.

"Devil's in it, ur doan't want two beds, I'll warrant? Now then, sir,
sitten doon and mak theeself comfortable. What'll thee drink?"

"I'm too young to drink," said Horatio, with a smile.

Bumpkin smiled too. "I'll warrant thee be."

"I'm always too young," said Horatio, "for every thing that's nice. Mr.
Prigg says I'm too young to enjoy myself; but if you don't mind, sir, I'm
not too young to be hungry. I've walked a long distance."

"Have ur now?" said Mrs. Bumpkin. "We ain't got anything wery grand,
sir; but there be a nice piece o' pickle pork and pease-puddin, if thee
doan't mind thic."

"Bring un out," said Bumpkin; and accordingly a nice clean cloth was soon
spread, and the table was groaning (as the saying is), with a large leg
of pork and pease-pudding and home-made bread; to which Horatio did ample
justice.

"Bain't bad pooark," said Bumpkin.

"Best I ever tasted," replied Horatio; "we don't get this sort of pork in
London--pork there doesn't seem like pork."

"Now look at that," said Joe; "I fed that air pig."

"So ur did, Joe," said the farmer; "I'll gie thee credit, Joe, thee fed
un well."

"Ah!" said Joe; "and that air pig knowed I as well as I knows thee."

When Horatio had supped, and the things were removed, Mr. Bumpkin assured
the youth that a little drop of