for the forty-second;" said the
Corporal, falling back; and in a few moments he and his charger found
themselves, to their mutual delight, entering the yard of a small, but
comfortable-looking inn.

The Host, a man of a capacious stomach and a rosy cheek--in short, a
host whom your heart warms to see, stepped forth immediately, held the
stirrup for the young Squire, (for the Corporal's movements were
too stately to be rapid,) and ushered him with a bow, a smile, and a
flourish of his napkin, into one of those little quaint rooms, with
cupboards bright with high glasses and old china, that it pleases us
still to find extant in the old-fashioned inns, in our remoter roads and
less Londonized districts.

Mine host was an honest fellow, and not above his profession; he stirred
the fire, dusted the table, brought the bill of fare, and a newspaper
seven days old, and then bustled away to order the dinner and chat with
the Corporal. That accomplished hero had already thrown the stables into
commotion, and frightening the two ostlers from their attendance on the
steeds of more peaceable men, had set them both at leading his own horse
and his master's to and fro' the yard, to be cooled into comfort and
appetite.

He was now busy in the kitchen, where he had seized the reins of
government, sent the scullion to see if the hens had laid any fresh
eggs, and drawn upon himself the objurgations of a very thin cook with a
squint.

"Tell you, ma'am, you are wrong--quite wrong--have seen the world--old
soldier--and know how to fry eggs better than any she in the
three kingdoms--hold jaw--mind your own business--where's the
frying-pan?--baugh!"

So completely did the Corporal feel himself in his element, while he was
putting everybody else out of the way; and so comfortable did he find
his new quarters, that he resolved that the "bait" should be at all
events prolonged until his good cheer had been deliberately digested,
and his customary pipe duly enjoyed.

Accordingly, but not till Walter had dined, for our man of the world
knew that it is the tendency of that meal to abate our activity, while
it increases our good humour, the Corporal presented himself to his
master, with a grave countenance.

"Greatly vexed, your honour--who'd have thought it?--but those large
animals are bad on long march."

"Why what's the matter now, Bunting?"

"Only, Sir, that the brown horse is so done up, that I think it would be
as much as life's w