bars, but all of them do not have commercial rooms in the properly exclusive sense. A stranger, therefore, who has asked for and obtained his mutton-chop in the commercial room of The Dolphin, The Bear, and The George, not unnaturally asks to be shown into the same chamber at the King's Head. But the King's Head does a business with real commercials, and the stranger finds himself—out of his element.
‘’Mercial, sir?’ said the waiter at The Bull Inn, Leeds, to Mr. Dockwrath, in that tone of doubt which seemed to carry an answer to his own question. But Mr. Dockwrath was not a man to be put down by a waiter. ‘Yes,’ said he. ‘Didn't you hear me say so?’ And then the waiter gave way. None of those lords of the road were in the house at the moment, and it might be that none would come that night.
Mr. Dockwrath had arrived by the 8•22 P.M. down, but the 8•45 P.M. up from the north followed quick upon his heels, and he had hardly put his brandy and water to his mouth before a rush and a sound of many voices were heard in the hall. There is a great difference between the entrance into an inn of men who are not known there and of men who are known. The men who are not known are shy, diffident, doubtful, and anxious to propitiate the chambermaid by great courtesy. The men who are known are loud, jocular, and assured;—or else, in case of deficient accommodation, loud, angry, and full of threats. The guests who had now arrived were well known, and seemed at present to be in the former mood. ‘Well, Mary, my dear, what's the time of day with you?’ said a rough, bass voice, within the hearing of Mr. Dockwrath. ‘Much about the old tune, Mr. Moulder,’ said the girl at the bar. ‘Time to look alive and keep moving. Will you have them boxes up stairs, Mr. Kantwise?’ and then there were a few words about the luggage, and two real commercial gentlemen walked into the room.
Mr. Dockwrath resolved to stand upon his rights, so he did not move his chair, but logked up over his shoulder at the new comers. The first man who entered was short and very fat;—so fat that he could not have seen his own knees for some considerable time past. His face rolled with fat, as also did all his limbs. His eyes were large, and bloodshot. He wore no beard, and therefore showed plainly the triple bagging of his fat chin. In spite of his overwhelming fatness, there was something in his face that was masterful and almost vicious. His body had been overcome by eating, but not as yet his spirit,—one would be inclined to say. This was Mr. Moulder, well known on the road as being in the grocery and spirit line; a pushing man, who understood his business, and was well trusted by his firm in spite of his habitual intemperance. What did the firm care whether or no he killed himself by eating and drinking? He sold his goods, collected his
