I made no answer, for truth to tell my mind yearned and my body hungered for the sweet, cool luxury of lavender sheets; the thought of a draughty barn or comfortless ditch appalled me, but I held my peace, only I scanned the dim road before me with eager eyes for some sign of tavern or inn. And presently from the loom of trees I espied a twinkling light that upon our nearer approach I saw proceeded from a wayside inn with a great trough of water before it and a signboard whereon, though evening was falling apace, I could make out the legend-- THE JOLLY WAGGONER and above this the dim semblance of a man in gaiters and smock, bearing a whip in one hand while in the other he upheld a foaming beaker--but never in nature did ale or beer ever so foam, froth, bubble and seethe as did this painted waggoner's painted beer. "What now?" enquired my companion, for I had halted. "What is it, Peregrine?" "The beer!" said I. "Where, man, where?" "Yonder!" and I pointed to the sign. "Did ever eyes behold beer so preternaturally frothy?" "Of course not, Perry my lad, because reality is never so perfect as the dream! The cove who painted that was damnably dry, perishing of a noble thirst, not a doubt of it, and being a true artist he painted it all in--egad, there's thirst in every inch of that foam--it's a masterpiece!" "It's a daub--and a bad one!" said I. "Indeed, on closer inspection the foam looks very like cheese!" "Excellent--the poor painting-cove was hungry also, and there you are! I'd hang that thing in my dining room (supposing I had one) to get me an appetite--it's made me hungry already and as for the thirst--Oh, confound it--come on--" "By no means!" said I resolutely. "Here is a cosy inn; here will we eat and sleep--" "At your expense? Curse me, no, Peregrine." "Damme, yes, Anthony." "I say positively I'll not--" "Look at that cheese-like foam, Anthony!" "Curse your pitiful eighteen pounds!" "A dinner, a glass and a downy bed with sheets, Anthony!" "Remember I'm a man of astonishing determination, Peregrine!" "Forget your ridiculous pride, Anthony!" "Ha--ridiculous, d'ye say, sir?" "And utterly preposterous, sir!" "Preposterous! By heaven!" he exclaimed, cocking the battered hat very ferociously over one eye. "Were you a little nearer my weight and size, sir--" "Sir," quoth I, nettled by the allusion, "does my size offend you--" "Rather say lack of size, sir--" "Sir?" "Sir!" Now while we stood glaring upon each other in this very ridiculous manner, we were startled by a clatter of hoofs from the inn yard, and the snorting squeal of a horse in pain.