XV. A Morning Meeting—The Letter Again

           

           Thescarletandorangelightoutsidethemalthousedidnotpenetratetoitsinterior,whichwas,asusual,lightedbyarivalglowofsimilarhue,radiatingfromthehearth.

           Themaltster,afterhavinglaindowninhisclothesforafewhours,wasnowsittingbesideathree-leggedtable,breakfastingoffbreadandbacon.Thiswaseatenontheplatelesssystem,whichisperformedbyplacingasliceofbreaduponthetable,themeatflatuponthebread,amustardplasteruponthemeat,andapinchofsaltuponthewhole,thencuttingthemverticallydownwardswithalargepocket-knifetillwoodisreached,whentheseveredlumpisimpaledontheknife,elevated,andsenttheproperwayoffood.

           Themaltster’slackofteethappearednottosensiblydiminishhispowersasamill.Hehadbeenwithoutthemforsomanyyearsthattoothlessnesswasfeltlesstobeadefectthanhardgumsanacquisition.Indeed,heseemedtoapproachthegraveasahyperboliccurveapproachesastraightlinelessdirectlyashegotnearer,tillitwasdoubtfulifhewouldeverreachitatall.

           Intheashpitwasaheapofpotatoesroasting,andaboilingpipkinofcharredbread,called"coffee",forthebenefitofwhomsoevershouldcall,forWarren’swasasortofclubhouse,usedasanalternativetotheinn.

           "Isay,saysI,wegetafineday,andthendowncomesasnapperatnight,"wasaremarknowsuddenlyheardspreadingintothemalthousefromthedoor,whichhadbeenopenedthepreviousmoment.TheformofHeneryFrayadvancedtothefire,stampingthesnowfromhisbootswhenabouthalf-waythere.

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