ving sort of chap, I know. I'm fond of change. I'm always a-thinking
that with my good health and spirits it would be more creditable in me
to be jolly where there's things a-going on to make one dismal. It may
be a mistake of mine you see, but nothing short of trying how it acts
will set it right. Then an't it best that I should go; particular when
your free way has helped me out to say all this, and we can part as
good friends as we have ever been since first I entered this here noble
Dragon, which,' said Mr Tapley in conclusion, 'has my good word and my
good wish to the day of my death!'

The hostess sat quite silent for a little time, but she very soon put
both her hands in Mark's and shook them heartily.

'For you are a good man,' she said; looking into his face with a smile,
which was rather serious for her. 'And I do believe have been a better
friend to me to-night than ever I have had in all my life.'

'Oh! as to that, you know,' said Mark, 'that's nonsense. But love my
heart alive!' he added, looking at her in a sort of rapture, 'if you ARE
that way disposed, what a lot of suitable husbands there is as you may
drive distracted!'

She laughed again at this compliment; and, once more shaking him by both
hands, and bidding him, if he should ever want a friend, to remember
her, turned gayly from the little bar and up the Dragon staircase.

'Humming a tune as she goes,' said Mark, listening, 'in case I should
think she's at all put out, and should be made down-hearted. Come,
here's some credit in being jolly, at last!'

With that piece of comfort, very ruefully uttered, he went, in anything
but a jolly manner, to bed.

He rose early next morning, and was a-foot soon after sunrise. But it
was of no use; the whole place was up to see Mark Tapley off; the boys,
the dogs, the children, the old men, the busy people and the idlers;
there they were, all calling out 'Good-b'ye, Mark,' after their own
manner, and all sorry he was going. Somehow he had a kind of sense that
his old mistress was peeping from her chamber-window, but he couldn't
make up his mind to look back.

'Good-b'ye one, good-b'ye all!' cried Mark, waving his hat on the top
of his walking-stick, as he strode at a quick pace up the little street.
'Hearty chaps them wheelwrights--hurrah! Here's the butcher's dog
a-coming out of the garden--down, old fellow! And Mr Pinch a-going to
his organ--good-b'ye, sir! And the terrier-bitch from over the way--hie,