that I weel;" at the same time he bent down from the saddle, and gave Nicholas's fist a huge wrench; "but wa'at be the matther wi' thy feace, mun? it be all brokken loike."
"It is a cut," said Nicholas, turning scarlet as he spoke,—"a blow; but I returned it to the giver, and with good interest too."
"Noa, did 'ee though?" exclaimed John Browdie. "Weel deane, I loike 'un for thot."
"The fact is," said Nicholas, not very well knowing how to make the avowal, "the fact is, that I have been ill-treated."
"Noa!" interposed John Browdie, in a tone of compassion; for he was a giant in strength and stature, and Nicholas very likely in his eyes seemed a mere dwarf; "dean't say thot."
"Yes, I have," replied Nicholas, "by that man Squeers, and I have beaten him soundly, and am leaving this place in consequence."
"What!" cried John Browdie, with such an ecstatic shout, that the horse quite shyed at it. "Beatten the schoolmeasther! Ho! ho! ho! Beatten the schoolmeasther! who ever heard o' the loike o' that noo! Giv' us thee hond agean, yoongster. Beatten a schoolmeasther! Dang it, I loove thee for’t."
With these expressions of delight, John Browdie laughed and laughed again—so loud that the echoes far and wide sent back nothing but jovial peals of merriment—and shook Nicholas by the hand meanwhile no less heartily. When his mirth had subsided, he inquired what Nicholas meant to do; on his informing him, to go straight to London, he shook his head doubtfully, and inquired if he knew how much the coaches charged to carry passengers so far.
"No, I do not," said Nicholas; "but it is of no great consequence to me, for I intend walking."
"Gang awa' to Lunnun afoot!" cried John, in amazement.
"Every step of the way," replied Nicholas. "I should be many steps further on by this time, and so good bye."
"Nay noo," replied the honest countryman, reining in his impatient horse, "stan’ still, tellee. Hoo much cash hast thee gotten?"
"Not much," said Nicholas, colouring, "but I can make it enough. Where there's a will there's a way, you know."
John Browdie made no verbal answer to this remark, but putting his hand in his pocket, pulled out an old purse of soiled leather, and insisted that Nicholas should borrow from him whatever he required for his present necessities.
"Dean't be afeard, mun," he said; "tak' eneaf to carry thee whoam. Thee'lt pay me yan day, a' warrant."
Nicliolas could by no means be prevailed upon to borrow more than a sovereign, with which loan Mr. Browdie, after many entreaties that he would accept of more (observing, with a touch of Yorkshire caution, that if he didn't spend it all he could put the surplus by, till he had an opportunity of remitting it carriage free), was fain to content himself.
"Tak' that bit o' timber to help thee on wi', mun," he added, pressing his stick on Nicholas, and giving his hand another squeeze; "keep a good hart, and bless thee. Beatten a schoolmeasther! 'Cod its the best thing a've heerd this twenty year!"
