When we came to the inn the packman led the way through a flagged passage into a garden at the back. There, underneath a pear-tree, stood a green-painted bench with a table before it. Laying his pack upon the end of the bench, he sat down and pushed his bonnet back; I seated myself beside him.
"Noo," he said, "we maun ha’e something to eat. What will ye ha’e?"
Not knowing what might be available, I hesitated. Guessing the cause of my hesitation, he said: "Dinna be feared: it’s a guid meat-hoose and its ’tippenny’ is the best in the country-side. As for me, I’m for a pint o’ ’tippenny,’ and a fry o’ ham and eggs. The King himsel’ couldna dae better than that."
As he spoke a young girl had come through the door and now stood before us.
"What ha’e ye got for twa tired travellers?" asked Hector. "We want the best; we’re worthy o’t, and quite able to pay for it forby."
As the packman had foretold, ham and eggs were forthcoming; and having given our order Hector produced his pipe and proceeded to fill it.
When it was drawing satisfactorily he proceeded to point out the beauties of the scene. To the right were visible great grey walls, moss-grown in places, with here and there a bush springing among their ruins.
"That," he said, "is part o’ the wall o’ the old Abbey. There," pointing to the right, "is a’ that remains o’ the Abbey itsel’. By and by we’ll gang and tak’ a look at it."
Soon the girl returned with our food. When we had finished our meal Hector said:
"And noo I maun go and see my frien’ the miller. Meantime, I’ll leave you in chairge o’ the pack, and if onybody should want to buy, you can mak’ the sale. I hope ye’ll prove yersel’ a guid packman,"--with which he stumped off.
In a moment or two the girl came to clear the table. When she had done so, she returned, and looking at me half shyly, said: "Are ye a packman tae?"
"Oh," she said, "then I wonder if ye ha’e sic a thing as a dream-book in your pack?" I opened the pack, and spread its contents before her. "No, I dinna want onything else but a dream-book," she said. I found one, and, lifting a corner of her apron, she produced a penny which she laid upon the table, and with a finger already between the pages of the book disappeared into the inn.