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more stand a rioting and rollicking in his streets； than he’d stand
being crowed over by his own Parliament？’
‘Yes； Johnny； but that’s your sense—not your senses；’ said the
adventurous Mr Parkes。
‘How do you know？ ‘retorted John with great dignity。 ‘You’re a
contradicting pretty free； you are； sir。 How do you know which it
is？ I’m not aware I ever told you； sir。’
Mr Parkes； finding himself in the position of having got into
metaphysics without exactly seeing his way out of them；
stammered forth an apology and retreated from the argument。
There then ensued a silence of some ten minutes or a quarter of
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an hour； at the expiration of which period Mr Willet was observed
to rumble and shake with laughter； and presently remarked； in
reference to his late adversary； ‘that he hoped he had tackled him
enough。’ Thereupon Messrs Cobb and Daisy laughed； and nodded；
and Parkes was looked upon as thoroughly and effectually put
down。
‘Do you suppose if all this was true； that Mr Haredale would be
constantly away from home； as he is？’ said John； after another
silence。 ‘Do you think he wouldn’t be afraid to leave his house with
them two young women in it； and only a couple of men； or so？’
‘Ay； but then you know；’ returned Solomon Daisy； ‘his house is
a goodish way out of London； and they do say that the rioters
won’t go more than two miles； or three at the farthest； off the
stones。 Besides； you know； some of the Catholic gentlefolks have
actually sent trinkets and suchlike down here for safety—at least；
so the story goes。’
‘The story goes！’ said Mr Willet testily。 ‘Yes； sir。 The story goes
that you saw a ghost last March。 But nobody believes it。’
‘Well！’ said Solomon； rising； to divert the attention of his two
friends； who tittered at this retort： ‘believed or disbelieved； it’s
true； and true or not； if we mean to go to London； we must be
going at once。 So shake hands； Johnny； and good night。’
‘I shall shake hands；’ returned the landlord； putting his into his
pockets； ‘with no man as goes to London on such nonsensical
errands。’
The three cronies were therefore reduced to the necessity of
shaking his elbows； having performed that ceremony； and brought
from the house their hats； and sticks； and greatcoats； they bade
him good night and departed； promising to bring him on the
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morrow full and true accounts of the real state of the city； and if it
were quiet； to give him the full merit of his victory。
John Willet looked after them； as they plodded along the road
in the rich glow of a summer evening； and knocking the ashes out
of his pipe； laughed inwardly at their folly； until his sides were
sore。 When he had quite exhausted himself—which took some
time； for he laughed as slowly as he thought and spoke—he sat
himself comfortably with his back to the house； put his legs upon
the bench； then his apron over his face； and fell sound asleep。
How long he slept； matters not； but it was for no brief space； for
when he awoke； the rich light had faded； the sombre hues of night
were falling fast upon the landscape； and a few bright stars were
already twinkling overhead。 The birds were all at roost； the daisies
on the green had closed their fairy hoods； the honeysuckle twining
round the porch exhaled its perfume in a twofold degree； as
though it lost its coyness at that silent time and loved to shed its
fragrance on the night； the ivy scarcely stirred its deep green
leaves。 How tranquil； and how beautiful it was！
Was there no sound in the air； besides the gentle rustling of the
trees and the grasshopper’s merry chirp？ Hark！ Something very
faint and distant； not unlike the murmuring in a sea…shell。 Now it
grew louder； fainter now； and now it altogether died away。
Presently； it came again； subsided； came once more； grew louder；
fainter—swelled into a roar。 It was on the road； and varied with its
windings。 All at once it burst into a distinct sound—the voices； and
the tramping feet of many men。
It is questionable whether old John Willet； even then； would
have thought of the rioters but for the cries of his cook and
housemaid； who ran screaming upstairs and locked themselves
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into one of the old garrets；—shrieking dismally when they had
done so； by way of rendering their place of refuge perfectly secret
and secure。 These two females did afterwards depone that Mr
Willet in his consternation uttered but one word； and called that
up the stairs in a stentorian voice； six distinct times。 But as this
word was a monosyllable； which； however inoffensive when
applied to the quadruped it denotes； is highly reprehensible when
used in connection with females of unimpeachable character；
many persons were inclined to believe that the young women
laboured under some hallucination caused by excessive fear； and
that their ears deceived them。
Be this as it may； John Willet； in whom the very uttermost
extent of dull…headed perplexity supplied the place of courage；
stationed himself in the porch； and waited for their coming up。
Once； it dimly occurred to him that there was a kind of door to the
house； which had a lock and bolts； and at the same time some
shadowy ideas of shutters to the lower windows； flitted through
his brain。 But he stood stock still； looking down the road in the
direction in which the noise was rapidly advancing； and did not so
much as take his hands out of his pocke