Eugene Aram — Volume 01 by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
page 42 of 167 (25%)
page 42 of 167 (25%)
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Peter Dealtry was assuredly a personage of peaceable disposition; but then he had the proper pride of a host and a clerk. His feeling were exceedingly wounded at this cavalier treatment--before the very eyes of his wife too--what an example! He thrust his hands deep into his breeches pockets, and strutting with a ferocious swagger towards the Traveller, he said:-- "Harkye, sirrah! This is not the way folks are treated in this country: and I'd have you to know, that I'm a man what has a brother a constable." "Well, Sir!" "Well, Sir, indeed! Well!--Sir, it's not well, by no manner of means; and if you don't pay for the ale you drank, and go quietly about your business, I'll have you put in the stocks for a vagrant." This, the most menacing speech Peter Dealtry was ever known to deliver, was uttered with so much spirit, that the Corporal, who had hitherto preserved silence--for he was too strict a disciplinarian to thrust himself unnecessarily into brawls,--turned approvingly round, and nodding as well as his stock would suffer him at the indignant Peter, he said: "Well done! 'fegs--you've a soul, man!--a soul fit for the forty- second! augh!--A soul above the inches of five feet two!" There was something bitter and sneering in the Traveller's aspect as he now, regarding Dealtry, repeated-- "Vagrant--humph! And pray what is a vagrant?" |
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