'
Hugh opened his eyes on hearing this, and looked at him in great
surprise.
'--And so you were, too,' said Mr Tappertit, pushing him away with a
condescending playfulness. 'When did MY eyes ever deceive--unless it was
a young woman! Don't you know me now?'
'Why it an't--' Hugh faltered.
'An't it?' said Mr Tappertit. 'Are you sure of that? You remember G.
Varden, don't you?'
Certainly Hugh did, and he remembered D. Varden too; but that he didn't
tell him.
'You remember coming down there, before I was out of my time, to ask
after a vagabond that had bolted off, and left his disconsolate father a
prey to the bitterest emotions, and all the rest of it--don't you?' said
Mr Tappertit.
'Of course I do!' cried Hugh. 'And I saw you there.'
'Saw me there!' said Mr Tappertit. 'Yes, I should think you did see
me there. The place would be troubled to go on without me. Don't you
remember my thinking you liked the vagabond, and on that account going
to quarrel with you; and then finding you detested him worse than
poison, going to drink with you? Don't you remember that?'
'To be sure!' cried Hugh.
'Well! and are you in the same mind now?' said Mr Tappertit.
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