Part 2

This was a cruel blow, but chiefly bore hard on _young Hopeful_; if ever he had a chance for the _chair_ at quarter-sessions, it was now over; the whole county saw the design on both sides. The _Parson_ and _Hopeful_ wanted to rule the county, who, for aught we know, might do it well; but we were _sure Roger_ had done so. He wanted nothing, and asked nothing for himself; one of his sons got a second-hand pair of _red breeches_ and _white stockings_, which he paid more for than if he had bought them in _Monmouth-street_. He got a friend of his made an _exciseman_; but when he asked for a _constable’s place_ he was refused. However, he went on in the old track, and _Hopeful_ and the _Parson_ redoubled their efforts to _oust_ him. One plot they laid upon another, and trick upon trick. _Pistol_ (who was _pretty much a stranger_) wondered none of them succeeded; but they wanted somebody to tell them, that tho’ _tricks_ may get the better of a _trickster_, they are lost and squandered on one who has no _tricks_. If a man takes to _corners_, or _short turns_, you may _meet_ him on a short turn, or find him in a corner; but how the D——l will you catch him if he never comes there? _Roger_ walked the _turnpike_ and the _middle stone_ of the street. _Hopeful_, _Pistol_, and the _Parson_, were all _peeping_ to watch him. Now, says _Hopeful_, he’ll come down this _bye turn_. Here, says the _Parson_, down this alley, as it’s the _nearest way_. _Pistol_ was sure of him at the _turn-stile_. But _Roger_ had found, by _constant walking_, that farthest about was the _ready way home_. When they saw him _fairly_ passed, they _looked_ at one another like a sett of _rooks_, who have lost their money to a _fair gamester_; and since they could not _take him in_, or make any thing of the game they first took in hand, they began to attack his _friends_ and _cronies_. One had a _little allowance_ from the county for something _he had done_; another, perhaps, for something he _had not done_; a third, in consideration of his father’s having been willing to do some service to the county, if he had happened to have ever been in it; and the like gratifications were bestowed on many, but not by _Roger_’s recommendation. He got indeed a small pittance for _Treat-all_, which just served to buy him a few _Ortolans_, and a little canary wine. All these they _cashiered_ to vex _Roger_; whereas he cared not, for any matter of profit he had, if they took his own places away. Upon their being _convinced_ of _Roger_’s _resolution_ in these and sundry other points, they put his _friends_ on the _list_ again, and turned their whole resentment on the _exciseman_, who had talked briskly in all companies on _Roger_’s behalf. Besides, the _surveyors_ did not rightly like him. All the _brewers_ of the parish hated him into the bargain, because he kept them tight, and made them _drink as they brewed_; but the former _exciseman_ they adored, and a good man he was; they might _brew_ three times a week for him; and yet look over his book for a month it was all silent. Now and then, on an office day, he might condemn a barrel of small beer for example.

But to draw to an end of this _first part of the history_. _Roger_ has more interest than ever; the _Parson_ seems to have done; _Nim_ has retired into the country; _Hopeful_ may look after his _surveying_, and play foot-ball on holydays; _Pistol_ is gone back to change his cloaths, and exercise his men. And now they are all parted, we may hope for peace and quietness ’till next _Quarter-session_.

_FINIS._

Transcriber’s Notes

pg 10 Changed: To all which questions, and a thouand more to: To all which questions, and a thousand more

pg 13 Changed: (for he hated gaffring and disputing) to: (for he hated gaffing and disputing)

pg 23 Changed: which just served to buy him af ew Ortolans to: which just served to buy him a few Ortolans