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Gaunt was taxing all her powers of pleasing in the dining-room, when an unexpected guest strolled into the kitchen: the pedler, Thomas Leicester. Jane welcomed him cordially, and he was soon seated at a table eating his share of the feast. Presently Mrs. Ryder came down, dressed in her best, and looking handsomer than ever.
Except the almanac, we had no other literature. All that I heard of books was when an Indian history or tale of shipwreck was sold by a pedler or wandering subscription-man to some one in the village, and read through its owner's nose to a slumbrous auditory.
"Belle O'Neill," said Miss Pray, before we finally sought that repose which is the guerdon of all nobly sustained adventure, "the drownin' and the p'isonin' is both forgot, and next time the jew'lry pedler comes along you shall have a breas'pin that is, if you're livin', Belle O'Neill." "Oh, Belle will live," I cried; "the danger is over."
"It is not mine," she began, when a sudden thought struck her, and turning it round she saw "a Louise Reynier, tumors reconnaissance," which she had had engraved on it, before giving it to Tom. "Who gave it to you, Jules?" she asked eagerly. "That old pedler," Jules said. "Bring him in," Madame Reynier said, "the carriage must wait; I must speak to him and alone."
Now what did Ned want of toothpicks, or churns, or horse blankets, or collars, or caps, or yokes, or thimbles, or tubs? A little Samuel his aunt had given him. A Chinese Josh had a charm for him. He would look at it. The shopman, who had once been a pedler, saw the state of things with Ned, and resolved to relieve him of that burning trouble in his pocket, if possible.
The pedler joined, as well as Tongs, in the merriment this latter personage, by the way, having now put himself completely under the control of the ardent spirit, and exhibiting all the appearance of a happy madness.
It was while the hilarity thus produced was at its loudest, that the pedler seized the chance to pour a moderate portion of the narcotic into the several glasses of his companions, while a second time filling them; but, unfortunately for himself, not less than the design in view, just at this moment Brooks grew awkwardly conscious of his own increasing weakness, having just reason enough left to feel that he had already drunk too much.
Carrick said he would, if it lay in his power. "O, it is easy enow," said the pedler. "'T is just to give young Thomas Leicester, into his own hand, this here trifle as soon as ever he comes home." And he handed Carrick a hard substance wrapped up in paper. Carrick promised. "Ay, ay, lad," said the pedler, "but see you play fair, and give it him unbeknown.
"'Do you throw a crutch in with this one? I says to the guy. "'What does he need a crutch for? he says, givin' me a sour look. "I takes the hoss by the head, backs him real sudden, 'n' he lifts the off-rear high 'n' stiff. "'He's a stringer, I says. "Brown gives the guy the laugh. "'You might get thirty dollars from a Jew pedler for him, he says.
He had a great contempt for "mechanical politicians," and "pedler principles."
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