The man within was inclined to give them admittance, and was indeed about to do so, when a stout gentleman with a long whip in his hand, and a flushed face which seemed to indicate that he had had his morning's draught, rode up to the gate, and called in a loud voice and with more oaths than the occasion seemed to warrant to have it opened directly.
'Who hast thou got here ?' said the gentleman angrily, as the man threw the gate wide open, and pulled off his hat, 'who are these?
Eh?
art a beggar, woman ?' The widow answered with a curtsey, that they were poor travellers.
'Vagrants,' said the gentleman, 'vagrants and vagabonds.

Thee wish to be made acquainted with the cage, dost thee--the cage, the stocks, and the whipping-post?
Where dost come from ?' She told him in a timid manner,--for he was very loud, hoarse, and red-faced,--and besought him not to be angry, for they meant no harm, and would go upon their way that moment.
'Don't be too sure of that,' replied the gentleman, 'we don't allow vagrants to roam about this place.

I know what thou want'st---stray linen drying on hedges, and stray poultry, eh?
What hast got in that basket, lazy hound ?' 'Grip, Grip, Grip--Grip the clever, Grip the wicked, Grip the knowing--Grip, Grip, Grip,' cried the raven, whom Barnaby had shut up on the approach of this stern personage.

'I'm a devil I'm a devil I'm a devil, Never say die Hurrah Bow wow wow, Polly put the kettle on we'll all have tea.' 'Take the vermin out, scoundrel,' said the gentleman, 'and let me see him.' Barnaby, thus condescendingly addressed, produced his bird, but not without much fear and trembling, and set him down upon the ground; which he had no sooner done than Grip drew fifty corks at least, and then began to dance; at the same time eyeing the gentleman with surprising insolence of manner, and screwing his head so much on one side that he appeared desirous of screwing it off upon the spot.
The cork-drawing seemed to make a greater impression on the gentleman's mind, than the raven's power of speech, and was indeed particularly adapted to his habits and capacity.

He desired to have that done again, but despite his being very peremptory, and notwithstanding that Barnaby coaxed to the utmost, Grip turned a deaf ear to the request, and preserved a dead silence.
'Bring him along,' said the gentleman, pointing to the house.