Yet, I fancied, if it came to the point, he might as soon wring the captain's neck for the maiden's sake, as for mine.
The one thing this meeting had gained for me, was that it assured me, however little she cared for me, she yet remembered me; and, further, now I knew her name, and that to one in my plight was no small prize.
"If your worship be not pressed for time," said a voice, "I am; so good- day to you." I looked round, and there was my old acquaintance the ferryman, making ready to put off.
This roused me, and I jumped into the boat.
This time the ill-looking Charon made no venture for my purse.

Little enough he would have found in it, had he got it.

He demanded his fare as if he had never before seen me; nor was it till I demanded if his rascally mate, whom I pitched into the river, had ever reached the shore, that he condescended to recall what happened ten days before.
But I was in no humour to heed his bluster; and I let him swear on.

Had he been civil I should have had to pay him; as it was, he spared me that, and was lucky that I did not crack his skull with his own oar, into the bargain.

I spent the twopence on bread and meat at his inn, and he durst not refuse it; then, with light purse and heavy heart, I set out to reach London that night.