Page:Passions 2.pdf/49

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Balt. Well, David, and do thou look pert upon it too. There's something for thee, (gives him money. A noise of laughing heard without.) Who is that without? is it not Peter's voice? Ho, Peter! What were you laughing at there?

''Pet. (with a broad grin)'' Only, Sir, at Squire Freeman, he, he, he! who was riding up the Back-lane, a little while ago, on his new crop-eared hunter, as fast as he could canter, with all the skirts of his coat flapping about him, for all the world like a clucking hen upon a sow's back, he, he, he!

''Balt. (with his face brightening)'' Thou art pleasant, Peter; and what then?

Pet. When just turning the corner, your honour, as it might be so, my mother's brown calf, bless its snout! I shall love it for it as long as I live, set its face through the hedge, and said "Mow!"

''Balt. (eagerly.)'' And he fell, did he?

Pet. O Lord, yes, your honour! into a good soft bed of all the rotten garbage of the village.

Balt. And you saw this, did you ?

Pet. O yes, your honour, as plain as the nose on my face.

Balt. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! and you really saw it?

David aside to Nat. I wonder my master can demean himself so as to listen to that knave's tales: I'm sure he was proud enough once.

''Balt. (still laughing.)'' You really saw it?

Pet. Ay, your honour, and many more than me saw it. Did'nt they Nat.?