Part 7 (2/2)
”Take thy hand off my shoulder, Ralph, thou coaxing villain!--Ha, ha, I warrant you get naught but vinegar from me, for your treacle.--But come--thou art a good child, and shalt have of the best in this house:--I would only warn you to call for it mannerly, Master Ralph.”
”Our dame is a woman of mettle,” said another of the company, as the landlady escaped from the planter and took her station behind the bar.
”What has become of that man Weasel?” she inquired somewhat petulantly.
”The man I am sure has been abroad ever since I left the house! He is of no more value than a cracked pot;--he would see me work myself as thin as a broom handle before he would think of turning himself round.”
”Garret is now upon the quay,” replied one of the customers;--”I saw him but a moment since with Arnold the Ranger.”
”With some idle stroller,--you may be sure of that!” interrupted the hostess:--”never at his place, if the whole house should go dry as Cuthbert's spring at midsummer. Call him to me, if you please, Master Shortgra.s.s.--Michael Curtis, that wench Matty Scamper has something to do besides listen to your claverings! Matty, begone to the kitchen; these country cattle will want their suppers presently.--Oh, w.i.l.l.y, w.i.l.l.y o' the Flats!--for the sake of one's ears, in mercy, stop that everlasting tw.a.n.gling of your old crowd!--It would disgrace the patience of any Christian woman in the world to abide in the midst of all this uproar!--Nay then, come forward, old crony--I would not offend thee,” she said in a milder tone to the fiddler. ”Here is a cup of ale for thee, and Matty will give you your supper to-night. I have danced too often to thy music to deny thee a comfort;--so, drink as you will!
but pray you rest your elbow for a while.”
”And there is a s.h.i.+lling down on the nail,” said Driving d.i.c.k, as he and the crowder came together to the bar at the summons of the landlady: ”when that is drunk out, dame, give me a s.p.a.ce of warning, that I may resolve whether we shall go another shot.”
”Master Shortgra.s.s told me you had need of me,” said Garret Weasel, as he now entered the door;--”what wouldst with me, wife Dorothy?”
”Get you gone!” replied the wife--”thou art ever in the way. I warrant your head is always thrust in place when it is not wanted! If you had been at your duty an hour ago, your service might have been useful.”
”I can but return to the quay,” said Garret, at the same time beginning to retrace his steps.
”Bide thee!” exclaimed the dame in a shrill voice--”I have occasion for you. Go to the cellar and bring up another stoop of hollands; these salt water fish have no relish for ale--they must deal in the strong:--nothing but hollands or brandy for them.”
The obedient husband took the key of the cellar and went on the duty a.s.signed him.
At this moment a door communicating with an adjoining apartment was thrown ajar and the head of Captain Dauntrees protruded into the tap-room.
”Mistress Dorothy,” he said--”at your leisure, pray step this way.”
The dame tarried no longer than was necessary to complete a measure she was filling for a customer, and then went into the room to which she had been summoned. This was a little parlour, where the Captain of musqueteers had been regaling himself for the last hour over a jorum of ale, in solitary rumination. An open window gave to his view the full expanse of the river, now glowing with the rich reflexions of sunset; and a balmy October breeze played through the apartment and refreshed without chilling the frame of the comfortable Captain. He was seated near the window in a large easy chair when the hostess entered.
”Welcome dame,” he said, without rising from his seat, at the same time offering his hand, which was readily accepted by the landlady.--”By St.
Gregory and St. Michael both, a more buxom and tidy piece of flesh and blood hath never sailed between the two headlands of Potomac, than thou art! You are for a junketing, Mistress Dorothy; you are tricked out like a queen this evening! I have never seen thee in thy new suit before. Thou art as gay as a marygold: and I wear thy colours, thou laughing mother of mischief! Green is the livery of thy true knight.
Has your goodman, honest Garret, come home yet, dame?”
”What would you with my husband, Master Baldpate? There is no good in the wind when you throw yourself into the big chair of this parlour.”
”In truth, dame, I only came to make a short night of it with you and your worthy spouse. Do not show your white teeth at me, hussy,--you are too old to bite. Tell Matty to spread supper for me in this parlour.
Arnold and Pamesack will partake with me; and if the veritable and most authentic head of this house--I mean yourself, mistress--have no need of Garret, I would entreat to have him in company. By the hand of thy soldier, Mistress Dorothy! I am glad to see you thrive so in your calling. You will spare me Garret, dame? Come, I know you have not learnt how to refuse me a boon.”
”You are a saucy Jack, Master Captain,” replied the dame. ”I know you of old: you would have a rouse with that thriftless babe my husband.
You sent him reeling home only last night. How can you look me in the face, knowing him, as you do, for a most shallow vessel, Captain Dauntrees?”
”Fie on thee, dame! You disgrace your own flesh and blood by such speech. Did you not choose him for his qualities?--ay, and with all circ.u.mspection, as a woman of experience. You had two husbands before Garret, and when you took him for a third, it was not in ignorance of the s.e.x. Look thee in the face! I dare,--yea, and at thy whole configuration. Faith, you wear most bravely, Mistress Weasel! Stand apart, and let me survey: turn thy shoulders round,” he added, as by a sleight he twirled the dame upon her heel so as to bring her back to his view--”thou art a woman of ten thousand, and I envy Garret such store of womanly wealth.”
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