Part 36 (2/2)
”Bottled these eighteen years, sir. I had in the cask for the great election of Dashmore and Egerton. I have little left of it, and I never give it but to old friends like,--for, I think, Sir, though you be grown stout, and look more grand, I may say that I've had the pleasure of seeing you before.”
”That's true, I dare say, though I fear I was never a very good customer.”
”Ah, it is Mr. Dale, then! I thought so when you came into the hall. I hope your lady is quite well, and the squire too; fine pleasant-spoken gentleman; no fault of his if Mr. Egerton went wrong. Well, we have never seen him--I mean Mr. Egerton--since that time. I don't wonder he stays away; but my Lord's son, who was brought up here, it an't nat'ral like that he should turn his back on us!”
Mr. Dale made no reply, and the landlord was about to retire, when the parson, pouring out another gla.s.s of the port, said, ”There must be great changes in the parish. Is Mr. Morgan, the medical man, still here?”
”No, indeed! he took out his 'ploma after you left, and became a real doctor; and a pretty practice he had too, when he took, all of a sudden, to some new-fangled way of physicking,--I think they calls it homy-something.”
”h.o.m.oeopathy?”
”That's it; something against all reason: and so he lost his practice here and went up to Lunnun. I've not heard of him since.”
”Do the Avenels still reside in their old house?”
”Oh, yes!--and are pretty well off, I hear say. John is always poorly, though he still goes now and then to the Odd Fellows, and takes his gla.s.s; but his wife comes and fetches him away before he can do himself any harm.”
”Mrs. Avenel is the same as ever?”
”She holds her head higher, I think,” said the landlord, smiling. ”She was always--not exactly proud like, but what I calls b.u.mptious.”
”I never heard that word before,” said the parson, laying down his knife and fork. ”b.u.mptious indeed, though I believe it is not in the dictionary, has crept into familiar parlance, especially amongst young folks at school and college.”
”b.u.mptious is b.u.mptious, and gumptious is b.u.mptious,” said the landlord, delighted to puzzle a parson. ”Now the town beadle is b.u.mptious, and Mrs. Avenel is b.u.mptious.”
”She is a very respectable woman,” said Mr. Dale, somewhat rebukingly.
”In course, sir, all gumptious folks are; they value themselves on their respectability, and looks down on their neighbours.”
PARSON (still philologically occupied).--”Gumptious--gumptious. I think I remember the substantive at school,--not that my master taught it to me. 'Gumption'--it means cleverness.”
LANDLORD (doggedly).--”There's gumption and b.u.mptious! Gumption is knowing; but when I say that sum 'un is gumptious, I mean--though that's more vulgar like--sum 'un who does not think small beer of hisself. You take me, sir?”
”I think I do,” said the parson, half smiling. ”I believe the Avenels have only two of their children alive still,--their daughter who married Mark Fairfield, and a son who went off to America?”
”Ah, but he made his fortune there and has come back.”
”Indeed! I'm very glad to hear it. He has settled at Lansmere?”
”No, Sir. I hear as he's bought a property a long way off. But he comes to see his parents pretty often--so John tells me--but I can't say that I ever see him. I fancy d.i.c.k does n't like to be seen by folks who remember him playing in the kennel.”
”Not unnatural,” said the parson, indulgently; ”but he visits his parents; he is a good son at all events, then?”
”I've nothing to say against him. d.i.c.k was a wild chap before he took himself off. I never thought he would make his fortune; but the Avenels are a clever set. Do you remember poor Nora--the Rose of Lansmere, as they called her? Ah, no, I think she went up to Lunnun afore your time, sir.”
”Humph!” said the parson, dryly. ”Well, I think you may take away now.
It will be dark soon, and I'll just stroll out and look about me.”
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