"Yes, Mr. Moseley," replied Jackson with a look of importance: "they
dashed into my yard with their chaise and four, with five servants, and
would you think it, Sir Edward, they hadn't been in the house ten
minutes, before Daniel's son was fishing from the servants, who they
were; I told him, Sir Edward--dukes don't come every day."
"How came you to get his grace away from the Dun Cow--chance?"
"No, your honor," said the host, pointing to his sign, and bowing
reverently to his old master, "the Moseley Arms did it. Mr. Daniels used
to taunt me with having worn a livery, and has said more than once he
could milk his cow, but that your honor's arms would never lift me into
a comfortable seat for life; so I just sent him a message by the way of
letting him know my good fortune, your honor."
"And what was it?"
"Only that your honor's arms had shoved a duke and a baron into my
house--that's all."
"And I suppose Daniels' legs shoved your messenger out of his," said
John, laughing.
"No, Mr. Moseley; Daniels would hardly dare do that: but yesterday, your
honor, yesterday evening, beat everything. Daniels was seated before his
door, and I was taking a pipe at mine, Sir Edward, as a coach and six,
with servants upon servants, drove down the street; it got near us, and
the boys were reining the horses into the yard of the Dun Cow, as the
gentleman in the coach saw my sign: he sent a groom to inquire who kept
the house; I got up, your honor, and told him my name, sir. 'Mr.
Jackson,' said his lordship, 'my respect for the family of Sir Edward
Moseley is too great not to give my custom to an old servant of his
family.'"
"Indeed," said the baronet; "pray who was my lord?"
"The Earl of Pendennyss, your honor. Oh, he is a sweet gentleman, and he
asked all about my living with your honor, and about Madam Wilson."
"Did his lordship stay the night?" inquired Mrs. Wilson, excessively
gratified at a discovery of the disposition manifested by the earl
towards her.
"Yes, madam, he left here after breakfast."
"What message did you send the Dun Cow this time, Jackson?" cried John.
Jackson looked a little foolish, but the question being repeated, he
answered--"Why, sir, I was a little crowded for room, and so your honor,
so I just sent Tom across the street, to know if Mr. Daniels couldn't
keep a couple of the grooms."
"And Tom got his head broke."
"No, Mr. John, the tankard missed him; but if--"
"Very well," said the baronet, willing to change the conversation, "you
have been so fortunate of late, you can afford to be generous; and I
advise you to cultivate harmony with your neighbor, or I may take my
arms down, and you may lose your noble visiters--see my room prepared."
"Yes, your honor," said the host, and bowing respectfully he withdrew.
"At least, aunt," cried John, pleasantly, "we have the pleasure of
supping in the same room with the puissant earl, albeit there be twenty-
four hours' difference in the time."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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