Even the driver, Captain
Tonkins, in the spirit of invitation peculiar to his mental state,
steadied himself on the seat, poked his right arm and his long whip
toward Marcus, and said: "Hu-hullo there--come along?" Having done this,
Captain Tonkins furtively poured a gill of brandy into the tin cup, and
drank it under cover of the buffalo robe.
In compliance with this general request, Marcus forbore to open the gate
of the old gentleman's house, and joined his friends.
"How many people have you called on, you old humbug?" asked Overtop, as
Marcus drew near.
Marcus was on the point of alluding to the chance acquaintances that he
had made that morning; but a moment's reflection stopped him.
"I told you," said he, "that my only visit was to be to our odd old
neighbor. I was at his gate, when you called. And now, what do
you want?"
"I want to tell you," said Matthew Maltboy, "that Miss Whedell--the
Juno-like young lady with the handkerchief, you know--is--"
"All your fancy painted her," interrupted Marcus.
"She's lovely--she's divine," said Maltboy, rapturously finishing the
quotation.
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