best way of
travelling through life's journey, and why not over a heath? Come,
my lad.

_Dan._ Cheek by jowl, by gum! [_Exeunt PEREGRINE and DAN._

_Dennis._ That walking philosopher--perhaps he'll give me a big bag
of money. Then, to be sure, I won't lay out some of it to make me
easy for life: for I'll settle a separate maintenance upon ould
mother Brulgruddery.

_JOB THORNBERRY peeps out of the Door of the Public House._

_Job._ Landlord!

_Dennis._ Coming, your honour.

_Job._ [_Coming forward._] Hush! don't bawl;--Mary has fallen
asleep. You have behaved like an emperor to her, she says. Give me
your hand, landlord.

_Dennis._ Behaved!--Arrah, now, get away with your blarney.
[_Refusing his Hand._

_Job._ Well, let it alone. I'm an old fool, perhaps; but, as you
comforted my poor girl in her trouble, I thought a squeeze from her
father's hand--as much as to say, "Thank you, for my child."--might
not have come amiss to you.

_Dennis._ And is it yourself who are that creature's father?

_Job._ Her mother said so, and I always believed her. You have heard
some'at of what has happen'd, I suppose. It's all over our town, I
take it, by this time. Scandal is an ugly, trumpeting devil. Let
'em talk;--a man loses little by parting with a herd of neighbours,
who are busiest in publishing his family misfortunes; for they are
just the sort of cattle who would never stir over the threshold to
prevent 'em.

_Dennis._ Troth, and that's true;--and some will only sarve you,
because you're convenient to 'em, for the time present; just as my
customers come to the Red Cow.

_Job._ I'll come to the Red Cow, hail, rain, or shine, to help the
house, as long as you are Landlord. Though I must say that your
wife----

_Dennis._ [_Putting his Hand before JOB'S Mouth._] Decency!
Remember your own honour, and my feelings. I mustn't hear any thing
bad, you know, of Mrs. Brulgruddery; and you'll say nothing good of
her, without telling damn'd lies; so be asy.

_Job._ Well, I've done;--but we mustn't be speaking ill of all the
world, neither: there are always some sound hearts to be found among
the hollow ones. Now he that is just gone over the heath----

_Dennis._ What, the walking philosopher?

_Job._ I don't know any thing of his philosophy; but, if I live
these thousand years, I shall never forget his goodness. Then,
there's another;--I was thinking, just now