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Updated: June 18, 2025
The company said, "Ay, ay!" in a tone of unbroken assent, for Master Linseed was understood to have "come from a distance," and to "know a good deal." But an innkeeper stands above a painter and decorator anywhere, and especially on his own hearth, and Master Chuter did not mean to be put down.
He has not said that he knows Jan, for it amuses him to hear the little innkeeper ramble on with anecdotes of the great painter's childhood. "This ale is fine," says the man of business. "I never can touch beer at home. The painter is married, you say?" "He've been married these two year," Master Chuter replies. "And they do say Miss Amabel have been partial to him from a child.
He displayed it one evening to the company assembled round the hearth of the little inn, and took occasion to propound his views on the subject of Jan's future life. "It's nothing to me," said Master Chuter, speaking of Jan, "who the boy be. It be no fault of his'n if he's a fondling. And one thing's sure enough. Them that left him with Master Lake left something besides him.
There be a sum to be easily earned by a sharp-eyed chap with good luck on 's side." "And how then, Master Chuter?" said George, pausing, with the steaming mug half-way to his lips. "Haw, haw!" roared the inn-keeper: "you be a sharp-eyed chap, too! Do 'ee think 'twould suit thee, Gearge? Thee's a sprack chap, sartinly, Gearge!"
Success is not always to the just, however; and poor Jan was terribly beaten by his big opponent, though not without giving him some marks of the combat to carry away. Kitty Chuter wept bitterly for Jan's bloody nose; but he comforted her, saying, "Never mind, Kitty; if he plagues thee again, 'll fight un again and again, till I whops he."
Towards the end of the week they were disturbed by a scuffling on the tallet stairs, and Rufus bounced in, followed at a slower pace by the schoolmaster, crying, "Unearthed at last!" "Come in, come in! That's right!" shouted Master Chuter. "Let Master Swift look, Jan. He be a scholar, and'll tell us all about un." But Jan shrank into the shadow.
Master Linseed's parting words produced upon the company that somewhat unreasonable depression which such ironical good wishes are apt to cause; but they only roused the spirit of contradiction in Master Chuter, and heightened his belief in Jan's talents more than any praise from the painter could have done. "Here's a pretty caddle about giving a boy's due!" said the innkeeper.
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