th' fiddler were' nobbut a little un, an' could mak' hauf a cake do, so aw made hauf a sop. Then th' gravy began to run red an' brown into th' pan, an' ow knew th' meat wer' near enuff--an' still ther' wer' no signs o' anybody. Howsomever, aw thought my share shouldn't be spoiled for any tomfoolery such as walkin' th' village wi' a lass o' my arm, as if yo' couldn't do that ony time. So aw just cut a slice aat an' put it on a shive an et it o' mi knee, an' had a swallow out o' th' piggin' to make it equal wi' th' jug. Then aw thowt aw meight as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb, an' aw ate mi fill. Tha' ma' poise me, Jack, if tha' likes, but tha'll noan poise th' meat out o' me, that's one comfort. It's th' first time for six months 'at mi back an' mi belly ha' not shakken hands, an' aw'll ta' thi poisin', an' thank yo' for it." But long before Jamie had done his story he was out of danger of a hiding. There was not one there that did not feel hungry with the very story, and the party trudged homewards with a laugh and a cheer to make out as best they could on what was left--Jamie, forgiven and impenitent, not last in the joking throng. The partition of the upper story of the Dartmouth Arms had been removed, and thereby room was made for the poorer tenantry who came this year in great numbers, many there being who came to plead the hard times and escape their remit, but joined in the rude scramble for the thick slices of meat and bread and the brimming pewters that were their yearly gift from the lord. But in the long room, on the top floor, was more decent seeming and good manners; for the tenants of the larger holdings at that time paid to the host of the inn each man eighteenpence that there might be a well-spread board. Mr. Joseph Scott, who lived at Woodsome (none of my lord's family being then in residence), did sit at the head of the table, and gave us the health of the king, which we drank with a good will, for there was none that did not grieve for the old man so sore stricken in his latter days. Then did Mr. Scott call upon us to toast His Royal Highness, the Prince Regent, and many did drink the health with a hip, hip, hurrah but for my part, though I hate to waste good liquor, I poured my ale into the spitoon, for stories not a few had come to our ears of the wild doings of the Prince and of his cruel treatment of his consort. Mr. Fox, to be sure, and other leaders of the Whigs in Parliament, did excuse the wildness of the Prince, and some did even bear a railing tongue against the hapless princess; but for me, who am perhaps too little learned to judge of princes and courts, I deemed such naughtiness should not be in high places more than in men of less degree, and my loyalty went into the sawdust. But I took a double draughty to the health of my lord and his lady.