"No, Madam!" said the stranger, "if by distress is meant beggary. I am in all respects perhaps better than I seem." There was a general titter from the Corporal, my host, and his wife, at the Traveller's semi-jest at his own unprepossessing appearance: but Madeline, a little disconcerted, bowed hastily, and drew her sister away. "A proud quean!" said the Stranger, as he re-seated himself, and watched the sisters gliding across the green. All mouths were opened against him immediately. He found it no easy matter to make his peace; and before he had quite done it, he called for his bill, and rose to depart. "Well!" said he, as he tendered his hand to the Corporal, "we may meet again, and enjoy together some more of your good stories. Meanwhile, which is my way to this--this--this famous scholar's--Ehem?" "Why," quoth Peter, "you saw the direction in which the young ladies went; you must take the same. Cross the stile you will find at the right --wind along the foot of the hill for about three parts of a mile, and you will then see in the middle of a broad plain, a lonely grey house with a thingumebob at the top; a servatory they call it. That's Master Aram's." "Thank you." "And a very pretty walk it is too," said the Dame, "the prettiest hereabouts to my liking, till you get to the house at least; and so the young ladies think, for it's their usual walk every evening!" "Humph,--then I may meet them." "Well, and if you do, make yourself look as Christian-like as you can," retorted the hostess. There was a second grin at the ill-favoured Traveller's expense, amidst which he went his way. "An odd chap!" said Peter, looking after the sturdy form of the Traveller. "I wonder what he is; he seems well edicated--makes use of good words." "What sinnifies?" said the Corporal, who felt a sort of fellow-feeling for his new acquaintance's brusquerie of manner;--"what sinnifies what he is. Served his country,--that's enough;--never told me, by the by, his regiment;--set me a talking, and let out nothing himself;--old soldier every inch of him!" "He can take care of number one," said Peter. "How he emptied the jug; and my stars! what an appetite!" "Tush," said the Corporal, "hold jaw. Man of the world--man of the world,--that's clear." CHAPTER III. A DIALOGUE AND AN ALARM.--A STUDENT'S HOUSE. "A fellow by the hand of Nature marked, Quoted, and signed, to do a deed of shame." --Shakspeare.--King John. "He is a scholar, if a man may trust The liberal voice of Fame, in her report. Myself was once a student, and indeed Fed with the self-same humour he is now." --Ben Jonson.--Every Man in his Humour.