If he should, let him beware of him as the worst enemy a boy could encounter.
For no poison is more deadly than that which strives to make one man lose all faith in his fellow-man.
I was so far infected by his manner that, though I felt ashamed to be sitting and listening to his bad talk, I dared not protest, for fear of appearing (what he would be sure to consider me), a hypocrite.
And so, unprofitably, the journey was beguiled, not without frequent stoppings and refreshings, each of which had the effect of exhilarating Whipcord's spirits and making Masham's tongue looser and looser.
At length Windsor was reached, and I looked forward to exchanging my undesirable companion for more interesting occupation in seeing over the town with its grand old castle.
But in this I was woefully disappointed.

Whipcord drove straight up to an inn in the town, where he ordered the horse and trap to be put up, while we all entered the smoky coffee-room and discussed the desirability of having dinner.
"I thought we were going to picnic out of doors ?" I said, mildly, in answer to Masham's appeal whether we should not order dinner where we were.
"All very well if you could get your liquor laid on," said Whipcord.

"I fancy we'd better stay where we are.

What do you say, Hawkesbury ?" "I'm sorry to disappoint Batchelor," said Hawkesbury, smiling, "but I really think we shall get dinner more comfortably here.

We've no plates or knives; and, as Whipcord says, there would be a difficulty about the beer." I was outvoted, and had to give up my idea of a rustic meal in the open air.
It was not a very pleasant dinner.