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pockets； ‘what dost want for him？ How much？’
‘He’s not to be sold；’ replied Barnaby； shutting up the basket in
a great hurry； and throwing the strap over his shoulder。 ‘Mother；
come away。’
‘Thou seest how much of an idiot he is； book…learner；’ said the
gentleman； looking scornfully at his wife。 ‘He can make a bargain。
What dost want for him； old woman？’
‘He is my son’s constant companion；’ said the widow。 ‘He is not
to be sold； sir； indeed。’
‘Not to be sold！’ cried the gentleman； growing ten times redder；
hoarser； and louder than before。 ‘Not to be sold！’
‘Indeed no；’ she answered。 ‘We have never thought of parting
with him； sir； I do assure you。’
He was evidently about to make a very passionate retort； when
a few murmured words from his wife happening to catch his ear；
he turned sharply round； and said； ‘Eh？ What？’
‘We can hardly expect them to sell the bird； against their own
desire；’ she faltered。 ‘If they prefer to keep him—’
‘Prefer to keep him！’ he echoed。 ‘These people； who go
tramping about the country a…pilfering and vagabondising on all
hands； prefer to keep a bird； when a landed proprietor and a
justice asks his price！ That old woman’s been to school。 I know she
has。 Don’t tell me no；’ he roared to the widow； ‘I say； yes。’
Barnaby’s mother pleaded guilty to the accusation； and hoped
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there was no harm in it。
‘No harm！’ said the gentleman。 ‘No。 No harm。 No harm； ye old
rebel； not a bit of harm。 If my clerk was here； I’d set ye in the
stocks； I would； or lay ye in jail for prowling up and down； on the
look…out for petty larcenies； ye limb of a gipsy。 Here； Simon； put
these pilferers out； shove ’em into the road； out with ’em！ Ye don’t
want to sell the bird； ye that come here to beg； don’t ye？ If they
an’t out in double…quick； set the dogs upon ’em！’
They waited for no further dismissal； but fled precipitately；
leaving the gentleman to storm away by himself （for the poor lady
had already retreated）； and making a great many vain attempts to
silence Grip； who； excited by the noise； drew corks enough for a
city feast as they hurried down the avenue； and appeared to
congratulate himself beyond measure on having been the cause of
the disturbance。 When they had nearly reached the lodge； another
servant； emerging from the shrubbery； feigned to be very active in
ordering them off； but this man put a crown into the widow’s
hand； and whispering that his lady sent it； thrust them gently from
the gate。
This incident only suggested to the widow’s mind； when they
halted at an alehouse some miles further on； and heard the
justice’s character as given by his friends； that perhaps something
more than capacity of stomach and tastes for the kennel and the
stable； were required to form either a perfect country gentleman； a
thoroughbred Englishman； or a genuine John Bull； and that
possibly the terms were sometimes misappropriated； not to say
disgraced。 She little thought then； that a circumstance so slight
would ever influence their future fortunes； but time and
experience enlightened her in this respect。
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‘Mother；’ said Barnaby； as they were sitting next day in a
waggon which was to take them within ten miles of the capital；
‘we’re going to London first； you said。 Shall we see that blind man
there？’
She was about to answer ‘Heaven forbid！’ but checked herself；
and told him No； she thought not； why did he ask？
‘He’s a wise man；’ said Barnaby； with a thoughtful
countenance。 ‘I wish that we may meet with him again。 What was
it that he said of crowds？ That gold was to be found where people
crowded； and not among the trees and in such quiet places？ He
spoke as if he loved it； London is a crowded place； I think we shall
meet him there。’
‘But why do you desire to see him； love？’ she asked。
‘Because；’ said Barnaby； looking wistfully at her； ‘he talked to
me about gold； which is a rare thing； and say what you will； a thing
you would like to have； I know。 And because he came and went
away so strangely—just as white…headed old men come sometimes
to my bed’s foot in the night； and say what I can’t remember when
the bright day returns。 He told me he’d come back。 I wonder why
he broke his word！’
‘But you never thought of being rich or gay； before； dear
Barnaby。 You have always been contented。’
He laughed and bade her say that again； then cried； ‘Ay ay—oh
yes；’ and laughed once more。 Then something passed that caught
his fancy； and the topic wandered from his mind； and was
succeeded by another just as fleeting。
But it was plain from what he had said； and from his returning
to the point more than once that day； and on the next； that the
blind man’s visit； and indeed his words； had taken strong
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possession of his mind。 Whether the idea of wealth had occurred
to him for the first time on looking at the golden clouds that
evening—and images were often presented to his thoughts by
outward objects quite as remote and distant； or whether their poor
and humble way of life had suggested it； by contrast； long ago； or
whether the accident （as he would deem it） of the blind man’s
pursuing the current of his own remarks； had done so at the
moment； or he had been impressed by the mere circumstance of
the man being blind； and； therefore； unlike any one with whom he
had talked before； it was impossible to tell。 She tried every means
to discover； but in vain； and the probability is that Barnaby
himself was equally in the