and left him to his rest in the s ancient bed chapter if joseph the and of had happened to be at home when his father s guest presented himself before the door � that is if it had not chanced to be one of the half dozen days in the whole year on which he was at liberty to absent himself for as many hours without question or reproach � he would have contrived by hook or to to the very bottom of mr s mystery and to come at his purpose with as much certainty as though he had been his confidential adviser in that fortunate case the would have had quick warning of the ills that threatened them and the aid of various and wise suggestions to boot for all joe s readiness of thought and action and au his sympathies and good wishes were in favour of the young people and were in devotion to their cause whether this disposition arose out of his old in favour of the young lady whose history had surrounded her in his mind almost from his cradle with circumstances of unusual interest or from his attachment towards the yoimg gentleman into whose confidence he had through his and alacrity and the rendering of important services as a spy and messenger almost glided whether they had their origin in either of these sources or in the habit natural to youth or in the constant and worrying of his venerable parent or in any hidden little love affair of his own which gave him of a fellow feeling in the matter it is needless to inquire � especially as joe was out of the way and had no opportunity on that particular occasion of to his sentiments either on one side or the other it was in fact the twenty fifth of march which as most people know to their cost is and b been time out of mind one of those unpleasant termed quarter days on this twenty fifth of march it was john s pride to in hard cash his with a certain and in the city of london to give into whose hands a canvas bag containing its exact amount and not a penny more or less was the end and object of a for joe so surely as the year and day came round this journey was performed upon an old grey mare concerning whom john had an indistinct set of ideas hovering about him to the effect that she could win a plate or cup if she tried she never had tried and probably never would now being some fourteen or fifteen years of age short in wind long in body and rather the worse for wear in respect of her mane and tail notwithstanding these slight defects john perfectly in the animal and when she was brought to the door by actually retired into the bar and there in a secret grove of laughed with pride there s a bit of said john when he had recovered enough self command to appear at the door again there s a comely there s high there s bone there was bone enough beyond all doubt and so seemed to think as he sat sideways in the saddle lazily doubled up with his chin nearly touching his knees and heedless of the dangling and loose bridle rein sauntered up and down on the little green before the door mind you take good care of her sir said john appealing from insensible person to his son and heir who now appeared equipped and ready don t you ride hard i should be puzzled to do that i think father joe replied casting a look at the animal none of your impudence sir if you please retorted old john what would you ride sir a wild ass or would be too tame for you wouldn t he eh sir you d like to ride a roaring lion wouldn t you sir eh sir hold your tongue sir when mr will in his differences with his son had exhausted all the questions that occurred to him and joe had said nothing at all in answer he generally wound up by bidding him hold his tongue and what does the boy mean added mr after he had stared at him for little time in a species of by his hat to such an extent are you a going to kill the sir no said joe i m not now your mind at ease father with a air too said mr surveying mm from top to toe with a fire eating drinking sort of way with him and what do you mean by pulling up the and eh sir it s only a little said joe there s no harm in that i hope you re a boy of business you are sir said mr to go supposing that care for i don t suppose anything of the kind returned joe let them keep their red noses for bottles and these are going to mr s house and do you suppose he minds such things as demanded john i don t know and to say the truth i don t care said joe come father give me the money and in the name of patience let me go there it is sir john and take care of it and mind you don t make too much haste back but give the mare a long rest � do you mind ay i mind returned joe she u need it heaven knows and don t you score up too much at the black lion said john mind that too then why don t you let me have some money of my own retorted joe why don t you father what do you send me into london for giving me only the right to call for my dinner at the black lion which you re to pay 