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for dust and damage to that article of dress； through the various
items of his guest’s bill； ‘he’ll get out of a’most any winder in the
house。 There never was such a chap for flinging himself about and
never hurting his bones。 It’s my opinion； sir； that it’s pretty nearly
allowing to his not having any imagination； and that if imagination
could be （which it can’t） knocked into him； he’d never be able to
do it any more。 But we was a…talking； sir； about my son。’
‘True； Willet； true；’ said his visitor； turning again towards the
landlord with his accustomed serenity of face。 ‘My good friend；
what about him？’
It has been reported that Mr Willet； previously to making
answer； winked。 But as he was never known to be guilty of such
lightness of conduct either before or afterwards； this may be
looked upon as a malicious invention of his enemies—founded；
perhaps； upon the undisputed circumstance of his taking his guest
by the third breast button of his coat； counting downwards from
the chin； and pouring his reply into his ear：
‘Sir；’ whispered John； with dignity； ‘I know my duty。 We want
no love…making here； sir； unbeknown to parents。 I respect a
certain young gentleman； taking him in the light of a young
gentleman； I respect a certain young lady； taking her in the light of
a young lady； but of the two as a couple； I have no knowledge； sir；
none whatever。 My son； sir； is upon his patrole。’
‘I thought I saw him looking through the corner window but
this moment；’ said Mr Chester； who naturally thought that being
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on patrole； implied walking about somewhere。
‘No doubt you did； sir；’ returned John。 ‘He is upon his patrole of
honour； sir； not to leave the premises。 Me and some friends of
mine that use the Maypole of an evening； sir； considered what was
best to be done with him； to prevent his doing anything
unpleasant in opposing your desires； and we’ve put him on his
patrole。 And what’s more； sir； he won’t be off his patrole for a
pretty long time to come； I can tell you that。’
When he had communicated this bright idea； which had its
origin in the perusal by the village cronies of a newspaper；
containing； among other matters； an account of how some officer
pending the sentence of some court…martial had been enlarged on
parole； Mr Willet drew back from his guest’s ear； and without any
visible alteration of feature； chuckled thrice audibly。 This nearest
approach to a laugh in which he ever indulged （and that but
seldom and only on extreme occasions）； never even curled his lip
or effected the smallest change in—no； not so much as a slight
wagging of—his great； fat； double chin； which at these times； as at
all others； remained a perfect desert in the broad map of his face；
one changeless； dull； tremendous blank。
Lest it should be matter of surprise to any； that Mr Willet
adopted this bold course in opposition to one whom he had often
entertained； and who had always paid his way at the Maypole
gallantly； it may be remarked that it was his very penetration and
sagacity in this respect； which occasioned him to indulge in those
unusual demonstrations of jocularity； just now recorded。 For Mr
Willet； after carefully balancing father and son in his mental
scales； had arrived at the distinct conclusion that the old
gentleman was a better sort of a customer than the young one。
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Throwing his landlord into the same scale； which was already
turned by this consideration； and heaping upon him； again； his
strong desires to run counter to the unfortunate Joe； and his
opposition as a general principle to all matters of love and
matrimony； it went down to the very ground straightway； and sent
the light cause of the younger gentleman flying upwards to the
ceiling。 Mr Chester was not the kind of man to be by any means
dim…sighted to Mr Willet’s motives； but he thanked him as
graciously as if he had been one of the most disinterested martyrs
that ever shone on earth； and leaving him； with many
complimentary reliances on his great taste and judgment； to
prepare whatever dinner he might deem most fitting the occasion；
bent his steps towards the Warren。
Dressed with more than his usual elegance； assuming a
gracefulness of manner； which； though it was the result of long
study； sat easily upon him and became him well； composing his
features into their most serene and prepossessing expression； and
setting in short that guard upon himself； at every point； which
denoted that he attached no slight importance to the impression
he was about to make； he entered the bounds of Miss Haredale’s
usual walk。 He had not gone far； or looked about him long； when
he descried coming towards him； a female figure。 A glimpse of the
form and dress as she crossed a little wooden bridge which lay
between them； satisfied him that he had found her whom he
desired to see。 He threw himself in her way； and a very few paces
brought them close together。
He raised his hat from his head； and yielding the path； suffered
her to pass him。 Then； as if the idea had but that moment occurred
to him； he turned hastily back and said in an agitated voice：
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‘I beg pardon—do I address Miss Haredale？’
She stopped in some confusion at being so unexpectedly
accosted by a stranger； and answered ‘Yes。’
‘Something told me；’ he said； looking a compliment to he