"I suppose," sighed Barnabas, "a man's clothes are very

important--in the fashionable world?"

"Important! They are the most importantest part o' the fashionable

world, lad. Now there's Mr. Brummell--him as they call the

'Beau'--well, he ain't exactly a Lord Nelson nor yet a Champion of

England, he ain't never done nothing, good, bad, or indifferent--but

he does know how to wear his clothes--consequently he's a very

famous gentleman indeed--in the per-lite world, Barnabas." Here

there fell a silence while Barnabas stared up at the inn and Natty

Bell stared down at him. "To be sure, the old 'Hound' ain't much of

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a place, lad--not the kind of inn as a gentleman of quality would go

out of his way to seek and search for, p'r'aps--but there be worse

places in London, Barnabas, I was born there and I know. There, there!

dear lad, never hang your head--youth must have its dreams I've heard;

so go your ways, Barnabas. You're a master wi' your fists, thanks to

John an' me--and you might have been Champion of England if you

hadn't set your heart on being only a gentleman. Well, well, lad!

don't forget as there are two old cocks o' the Game down here in Kent

as will think o' you and talk o' you, Barnabas, and what you might

have been if you hadn't happened to--Ah well, let be. But

wherever you go and whatever you come to be--you're our lad

still, and so, Barnabas, take this, wear it in memory of old

Natty Bell--steady--catch!" And, with the word, he tossed

down his great silver watch.

"Why, Natty Bell!" exclaimed Barnabas, very hoarse of voice.

"Dear old Natty--I can't take this!"

"Ah, but you can--it was presented to me twenty and one years ago,

Barnabas, the time I beat the Ruffian on Bexley Heath."

"But I can't--I couldn't take it," said Barnabas again, looking down

at the broad-faced, ponderous timepiece in his hand, which he knew

had long been Natty Bell's most cherished possession.

"Ay, but you can, lad--you must--'t is all I have to offer, and it

may serve to mind you of me, now and then, so take it! take it! And,

Barnabas, when you're tired o' being a fine gentleman up there in

London, why--come back to us here at the old 'Hound' and be content

to be just--a man. Good-by, lad; good-by!" saying which, Natty Bell

nodded, drew in his head and vanished, leaving Barnabas to stare up

at the closed lattice, with the ponderous timepiece ticking in his

hand.

So, in a while, Barnabas slipped it into his pocket and, turning his

back upon the "Coursing Hound," began to climb that hill beyond

which lay the London of his dreams. Therefore as he went he kept his

eyes lifted up to the summit of the hill, and his step grew light,

his eye brightened, for Adventure lay in wait for him; Life beckoned

to him from the distance; there was magic in the air. Thus Barnabas

strode on up the hill full of expectancy and the blind confidence in

destiny which is the glory of youth.




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