lane. Along the lane came, trotting on his pony, a county member who had lately been re-elected, and in whose favour old Steeve always recorded a vote. Seeing and recognising his faithful constituent, the legislator drew his bridle, inquired after the yeoman's health, remarked that it was a gloomy day, and, having executed this piece of politeness, was about to trot on, when Steeve prolonged the parley.
"Measter Member."
"Well, Mr J—?"
"I reckon 'tis more'n thirty year that I have a-voted for you and your brether."
"I think it must be, Mr J—; and very highly flattered my family feels by your steady support, I assure you. I'm proud of your good opinion."
"Like enough you be, sir. But do you know that in all that long time I can't recollect that I ever drink'd a glass at your expense, except to election times, when everybody could wet their clay? Now that's hardly reasonable."
"I think you must be mistaken," answered the member. "I don't generally neglect my friends, especially such stanch friends as you; but, mistaken or not, I shall be very glad if you think proper to drink my health some evening soon at The Rising Sun."
"Thank 'ee, sir. Perhaps you'll be so good as to let 'em know that they may sarve me."
"I will. I'm going by there now; and I won't forget to tell the landlord that he's to serve you with as much as you wish to take the first night you go down."
"That's honourable, sir. Good day."
About a week after this, the member, riding in that direction again, stopped at The Rising Sun, learned that old Steeve had "been and had his drop," and inquired what was to pay. A note was handed to him making him debtor to the establishment by 37 glasses of grog served to Mr Steeve J—.
The member was indignant.
"You've had plenty of my money," he said, "at this Rising Sun. There was no need of your laying it on in this way. I didn't want to stint the old man, and I told you so. But I didn't think you'd have taken this advantage."
"No advantage have been took, sir," the landlord replied. "That's the fair and honest account of what old Steeve drinked."
"Well, you'll allow me to ask him about it before I settle?"
"Sartainly, sir; and you'll find all correct."
So the debtor rode off towards old Steeve's acres, and found the yeoman much in the same spot, and occupied much in the same way, as at their former meeting.
"Mornin', measter," said Steeve, smiling benignantly.
"Good morning, Mr J—. Glad to see you all right and at work."
"Me! Lord bless 'ee, I am always right and hearty, I be! Much obliged for your little treat, sir. I enjoyed that drop, I did."
"It's a satisfaction if it made you happy; but, I say, Mr Steeve, I didn't think that, when I gave you entire liberty for your own entertainment, you'd have gone and treated half the parish at my expense."
"Me, sir? Me treat the parish at your honour's expense? No: that's a thing old Steeve 'ud scorn to do. Whoever says he got a thimbleful by my means out of your honour is a lying varmint, and if you'll gi' me his name I'll tell 'n so, whoever he may be."
"Then it must be as I suspected
