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dumb creaturs in em. But at last he died raving, and they found as hed left all his property, Warrens and all, to a Lunnon Charity, and thats how the Warrens come to be Charity Land; though, as for the stables, Mr. Lammeter never uses em, theyre out o all charicterLor bless you! if you was to set the doors a-banging in em, it ud sound like thunder half oer the parish. Ay, but theres more going on in the stables than what folks see by daylight, eh, Mr. Macey? said the landlord. Ay, ay; go that way of a dark night, thats all, said Mr. Macey, winking mysteriously, and then make believe, if you like, as you didnt see lights i the stables, nor hear the stamping o the hosses nor the cracking o the whips, and howling, too, if its towrt daybreak. Cliffs Holiday has been the name of it ever sin I were a boy; thats to say, some said as it was the holiday Old Harry gev him from roasting, like. Thats what my father told me, and he was a reasonable man, though theres folks nowadays know what happened afore they were born better nor they know their own business. What do you say to that, eh, Dowlas? said the landlord, turning to the farrier, who was swelling with impatience for his cue. Theres a nut for you to crack. Mr. Dowlas was the negative spirit in the company, and was proud of his position. Say? I say what a man should say as doesnt shut his eyes to look at a finger-post. I say as Im ready to wager any man ten pound, if hell stand out wi me any dry night in the pasture before the Warren stables, as we shall neither see lights nor hear noises, if it isnt the blowing of our own noses. Thats what I say, and Ive said it many a time; but theres nobody ull ventur a ten-pun note on their ghoses as they make so sure of. Why, Dowlas, thats easy betting, that is, said Ben Winthrop. You might as well bet a man as he wouldnt catch the rheumatise if he stood up tos neck in the pool of a frosty night. It ud be fine fun for a man to win his bet as hed catch the rheumatise. Folks as believe in Cliffs Holiday arent a-going to ventur near it for a matter o ten pound. If Master Dowlas wants to know the truth on it, said Mr. Macey with a sarcastic smile, tapping his thumbs together, hes no call to lay any bet; let him go and stan by himselftheres nobody ull hinder himand then he can let the parishners know if theyre wrong. Thank you! Im obliged to you, said the farrier with a snort of scorn. If folks are fools, its no business o mine. I dont want to make out the truth about ghoses; I know it aready. But Im not against a beteverything fair and open. Let any man bet me ten pound as I shall see Cliffs Holiday, and Ill go and stand by myself. I want no company. Id as lief do it as Id fill this pipe. Ah, but whos to watch you, Dowlas, and see you do it? Thats no fair bet, said the butcher. No fair bet? replied Mr. Dowlas angrily. I should like to hear any man stand up and say I want to bet unfair. Come now, Master Lundy, I should like to hear you say it. Very like you would, said the butcher. But its no business o mine. Youre none o my bargains, and I arent a-going to try and bate your price. If anybody ll bid for you at your own vallying, let him. Im for peace and quietness, I am. Yes; thats what every yapping cur is, when you hold a stick up at him, said the farrier. But Im afraid o neither man nor ghost, and Im ready to lay a fair bet. I arent a turn-tail cur. Ay, but theres this in it, Dowlas, said the landlord, speaking in a tone of much candour and tolerance. Theres folks, i my opinion, they cant see ghoses, not if they stood as plain as a pike-staff before em. And theres reason i that. For theres my wife, now, cant smell, not if shed the strongest o cheese |
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