Jeffery Farnol

“ I say you shall be throwed out o’ my cottage,—lock, stock, and barrel. I say—”
“I wouldn’t, Mr. Grimes,—leastways, not if I was you,” another voice broke in, calm and deliberate. “No, I wouldn’t go for to say another word, sir; because, if ye do say another word, I know a man as will drag you down out o’ that cart, sir,—I know a man as will break your whip over your very own back, sir,—I know a man as will then take and heave you into the horse-pond, sir,—and that man is me—Sergeant Appleby, late of the Nineteenth Hussars, sir.” ”

“ As he ended, he dropped the two brushes, the blacking, and the burnisher inside the legs of the boots, picked them up with a sweep of the arm, and, turning short round, strode out into the little garden.
“A fine fellow is Dick, sir!” nodded Peterday, beginning to fill a long clay pipe, “Lord!—what a sailor he’d ha’ made, to be sure!—failing which he’s as fine a soldier as ever was, or will be, with enough war-medals to fill my Sunday hat, sir. ”

“ Look at me, with the best o’ my days behind me, and wi’ only one arm left—and I’m a deal more awkward and helpless with that one arm than you’d think, sir,—look at me, and then tell me how could such a man dare to speak his mind to—such a woman. What right has—such a man to even think of speaking his mind to—such a woman, when there’s part o’ that man already in the grave? ”

“ Which does him a world o’ good, sir, and noways displeases Miss Priscilla,—because why?—because she don’t know nothing whatever about it.” Hereupon, Peterday rose, and crossing to a battered sea-man’s chest in the corner, came back with three or four tin whistles which he handed to Bellew, who laid aside his pipe, and, having selected one, ran tentatively up and down the scale while Peterday listened attentive of ear, and beaming of face. ”

“ Thus, Time and Circumstances have united to make a ghost of the likeness (as they have done of the original, long since) which, fading yet more, and more, will doubtless eventually vanish altogether,—like King William himself, and leave but a vague memory behind. ”

“ So, without further parley, the Sergeant saluted divers of the little crowd, and, wheeling sharply, strode along beside Bellew, rather more stiff in the back, and fixed of eye than was his wont, and jingling his imaginary spurs rather more loudly than usual.
“You will be wondering at the tantrums of the man Grimes, sir,—of his ordering me and my comrade Peterday out of his cottage. Sir—I’ll tell you—in two words. It’s all owing to the sale—up at the Farm, sir. You see, Grimes is a great hand at buying things uncommonly cheap, and selling ’em—uncommonly dear. ”

“ None the less I know a man as is happy to see you, Mr. Bellew, sir,—and that’s me—Sergeant Appleby, at your service, sir. My cottage lies down the road yonder, an easy march—if you will step that far?—Speaking for my comrade and myself—we shall be proud for you to take tea with us—muffins sir—shrimps, Mr. ”