I departed from the inn much in the same fashion as I had come to
it, mounted on a splendid horse indifferently well caparisoned,
with the small valise attached to my crupper, in which, besides the
few things I had brought with me, was a small book of roads with a
map which had been presented to me by the landlord. I must not
forget to state that I did not ride out of the yard, but that my
horse was brought to me at the front door by old Bill, who insisted
upon doing so, and who refused a five-shilling piece which I
offered him; and it will be as well to let the reader know that the
landlord shook me by the hand as I mounted, and that the people
attached to the inn, male and female--my friend the postillion at
the head--assembled before the house to see me off, and gave me
three cheers as I rode away. Perhaps no person ever departed from
an inn with more eclat or better wishes; nobody looked at me
askance, except two stage-coachmen who were loitering about, one of
whom said to his companion, "I say, Jim! twig his portmanteau! a
regular Newmarket turn-out, by--!"
It was in the cool of the evening of a bright day--all the days of
that summer were bright--that I departed. I felt at first rather
melancholy at finding myself again launched into the wide world,
and leaving the friends whom I had lately made behind me; but by
occasionally trotting the horse, and occasionally singing a song of
Romanvile, I had dispelled the feeling of melancholy by the time I
had proceeded three miles down the main road.
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