The guests, scarcely less disturbed, were equally at a loss; and at length, with a variety of muttered, half-expressed condolences, and pieces of advice, rose to depart; being at the same time slightly muddled with liquor.
The honest locksmith alone addressed a few words of coherent and sensible advice to both parties, urging John Willet to remember that Joe was nearly arrived at man's estate, and should not be ruled with too tight a hand, and exhorting Joe himself to bear with his father's caprices, and rather endeavour to turn them aside by temperate remonstrance than by ill-timed rebellion.

This advice was received as such advice usually is.

On John Willet it made almost as much impression as on the sign outside the door, while Joe, who took it in the best part, avowed himself more obliged than he could well express, but politely intimated his intention nevertheless of taking his own course uninfluenced by anybody.
'You have always been a very good friend to me, Mr Varden,' he said, as they stood without, in the porch, and the locksmith was equipping himself for his journey home; 'I take it very kind of you to say all this, but the time's nearly come when the Maypole and I must part company.' 'Roving stones gather no moss, Joe,' said Gabriel.
'Nor milestones much,' replied Joe.

'I'm little better than one here, and see as much of the world.' 'Then, what would you do, Joe ?' pursued the locksmith, stroking his chin reflectively.

'What could you be?
Where could you go, you see ?' 'I must trust to chance, Mr Varden.' 'A bad thing to trust to, Joe.