Oh, death were welcome!--COLERIDGE.
On reaching Norfolk, Lyon Berners drove at once to an obscure tavern
down by the wharves, and near the market. Here he found good stabling
for his horses and wagon, and decent accommodation for himself and wife.
"Come to market, I reckon, father?" suggested the landlord, taking the
stump of an old pipe from his mouth for the purpose.
"Yes," answered Lyon Berners, as "farmer Howe," taking off his
broad-brimmed hat, handing it to Sybil, and then sinking slowly and
heavily into a chair, like a very weary old man.
"Your daughter, I reckon, farmer?" continued the landlord, pointing to
Sybil with the stem of his pipe.
"My only girl," answered Lyon Berners, evasively.
"And no boys?" inquired the landlord.
"No boys," replied Lyon.
"That's a pity; on a farm too. But you must try to get a good husband
for the girl, and that will be all one as a boy of your own! Never had
any children but this, farmer, or did you have the misfortune to lose
'em?"
"I never had but this one girl," answered Lyon Berners still evasively.
"Then you must be very fond of that girl, I reckon."
"She is all the world to me," said Lyon, truly.
"Then he ought to be all the world to you, honey."
"And so I am," said Lyon, answering for Sybil, whom he could not yet
trust to act a part; though he saw, the instant he glanced at her, that
he might have done so; for Sybil, as soon as she saw attention drawn to
herself, began to turn her head down upon one shoulder and simper shyly
like an awkward rustic.
"You must excuse me for asking so many questions, farmer; but when I
see a father and daughter together, like you and your girl, I think of
myself, for I have an only daughter of my own. All the rest of my
children--and I had a whole passel of boys and girls--are with their
dear mother in heaven. So you see, farmer, I am a widower, with one gal
like yourself--for I reckon, from what you said, you are a widower?"
"My girl's mother has been dead many years," answered Lyon, with a drawl
and a sigh.
"Pappy, I'm so hungry and so sleepy I don't know what to do," said
Sybil, in a low, fretful tone, frowning and pouting.
"Yes, yes, honey; I reckon you are sure enough. So landlord, if you have
got a couple of little rooms joining onto each other, I wish you'd let
us have 'em. And we'd like a bit of supper besides," said Lyon Berners,
with a sigh and a grunt.
"To be sure. I'll go and call my girl directly, and she'll walk up to
your rooms while I have the supper got ready. Where would you like to
have it? down here, or in your room?" inquired the landlord.