第51章

`Ha ha! I almost think I am!' cried Mark, `though I never thought so before. Why, I can say anything to-night!'

`Say what you're going to say if you please, and be quick,' returned the landlady, `for I want to get to bed.'

`Why, then, my dear good soul,' said Mark, `and a kinder woman than you are never drawed breath -- let me see the man as says she did! -- what would be the likely consequence of us two being --'

`Oh nonsense!' cried Mrs. Lupin. `Don't talk about that any more.'

`No, no, but it an't nonsense,' said Mark; `and I wish you'd attend.

What would be the likely consequence of us two being married? If I can't be content and comfortable in this here lively Dragon now, is it to be looked for as I should be then? By no means. Very good. Then you, even with your good humour, would be always on the fret and worrit, always uncomfortable in your own mind, always a-thinking as you was getting too old for my taste, always a-picturing me to yourself as being chained up to the Dragon door, and wanting to break away. I don't know that it would be so,' said Mark, `but I don't know that it mightn't be. I am a roving sort of chap, I know.

I'm fond of change. I'm always a-thinking that with my good health and spirits it would be more creditable in me to be jolly where there's things a-going on to make one dismal. It may be a mistake of mine you see, but nothing short of trying how it acts will set it right. Then an't it best that I should go: particular when your free way has helped me out to say all this, and we can part as good friends as we have ever been since first I entered this here noble Dragon, which,' said Mr. Tapley in conclusion, `has my good word and my good wish to the day of my death!'

The hostess sat quite silent for a little time, but she very soon put both her hands in Mark's and shook them heartily.

`For you are a good man,' she said; looking into his face with a smile, which was rather serious for her. `And I do believe have been a better friend to me to-night than ever I have had in all my life.'

`Oh! as to that, you know,' said Mark, `that's nonsense. But love my heart alive!' he added, looking at her in a sort of rapture, `if you are that way disposed, what a lot of suitable husbands there is as you may drive distracted!'

She laughed again at this compliment; and, once more shaking him by both hands, and bidding him, if he should ever want a friend, to remember her, turned gaily from the little bar and up the Dragon staircase.

`Humming a tune as she goes,' said Mark, listening, `in case I should think she's at all put out, and should be made down-hearted. Come, here's some credit in being jolly, at last!'

With that piece of comfort, very ruefully uttered, he went, in anything but a jolly manner, to bed.

He rose early next morning, and was a-foot soon after sunrise. But it was of no use; the whole place was up to see Mark Tapley off: the boys, the dogs, the children, the old men, the busy people and the idlers: there they were, all calling out `Good-by'e, Mark,' after their own manner, and all sorry he was going. Somehow he had a kind of sense that his old mistress was peeping from her chamber-window, but he couldn't make up his mind to look back.

`Good-by'e one, good-by'e all!' cried Mark, waving his hat on the top of his walking-stick, as he strode at a quick pace up the little street.

`Hearty chaps them wheelwrights -- hurrah! Here's the butcher's dog a-coming out of the garden -- down, old fellow! And Mr. Pinch a-going to his organ -- good-by'e, sir! And the terrier-bitch from over the way -- hie, then, lass! And children enough to hand down human natur to the latest posterity -- good-by'e, boys and girls! There's some credit in it now. I'm a-coming out strong at last. These are the circumstances that would try a ordinary mind; but I'm uncommon jolly. Not quite as jolly as I could wish to be, but very near. Good-by'e! good-by'e!'