[The Virginians by William Makepeace Thackeray]@TWC D-Link bookThe Virginians CHAPTER II 10/27
"I tell you what, cousin," he cried, "I won't move for the Countess, or for the Baroness, or for all the cousins in Castlewood." And when the landlord entered the chamber with the bowl of punch, which Mr.Esmond had ordered, the young gentleman in bed called out fiercely to the host, to turn that sot out of the room. "Sot, you little tobacconist! Sot, you Cherokee!" screams out Mr. William.
"Jump out of bed, and I'll drive my sword through your body. Why didn't I do it to-day when I took you for a bailiff--a confounded pettifogging bum-bailiff!" And he went on screeching more oaths and incoherencies, until the landlord, the drawer, the hostler, and all the folks of the kitchen were brought to lead him away.
After which Harry Warrington closed his tent round him in sulky wrath, and, no doubt, finally went fast to sleep. My landlord was very much more obsequious on the next morning when he met his young guest, having now fully learned his name and quality. Other messengers had come from the castle on the previous night to bring both the young gentlemen home, and poor Mr.William, it appeared, had returned in a wheelbarrow, being not altogether unaccustomed to that mode of conveyance.
"He never remembers nothin' about it the next day. He is of a real kind nature, Mr.William," the landlord vowed, "and the men get crowns and half-crowns from him by saying that he beat them overnight when he was in liquor.
He's the devil when he's tipsy, Mr.William, but when he is sober he is the very kindest of young gentlemen." As nothing is unknown to writers of biographies of the present kind, it may be as well to state what had occurred within the walls of Castlewood House, whilst Harry Warrington was without, awaiting some token of recognition from his kinsmen.
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