Maunders, and
thank you kindly for a jolly evening. Come, Jim. Come, Mat, old boy--
off we go!"
"No, no," cried Mr. Maunders, the hospitable; "I'm not a-going to let
Matthew Brook leave my house at ten o'clock when he can stay as long as
he likes. You and he beat me at whist, but I mean to be even with him
at cribbage. We'll have a friendly hand and a friendly glass, and I'll
see him as far as the gates afterwards. You'll let him in, Plumpton,
come when he will, I know. If he can stay over his time at the other
house, he can stay over his time with me. Come, Brook, you won't say
no, will you, to a friend?" asked Milsom.
Matthew Brook looked at Mr. Milsom, and at his fellow-servants, in a
stupid half-drunken manner, and rubbed his big head thoughtfully with
his big hand.
"I'm blest if I know what to do," he said; "I've promised Stephen I
wouldn't stay out after time again--and--"
"Not as a rule, perhaps," answered Mr. Milsom; "but once in a way can't
make any difference, I'm sure, and Stephen Plumpton is the last to be
ill-natured."
"That I am," replied the good-tempered footman. "Stay, if you like to
stay, Mat. I'll leave my door unfastened, and welcome."
On this, the two other men took a friendly leave of their host and
departed, walking through the village street with legs that were not by
any means too steady.
There was a triumphant grin upon Mr.
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