As usual, it was entirely
managed by the careful and industrious Mrs. B----; while her husband
amused himself with field-sports, without troubling his head about the
matter. Once upon a time the premises having taken fire, the husband was
met walking up the High Street, loaded with his guns and fishing-rods,
and replied calmly to some one that inquired after his wife, "that the
poor woman was trying to save a parcel of crockery, and some trumpery
books;" the last being those which served her to conduct the business
of the house. There were many elderly gentlemen in the author's younger
days, who still held it part of the amusement of a journey "to parley
with mine host," who often resembled, in his quaint humour, mine Host of
the Garter, in the Merry Wives of Windsor; or Blague of the George, in
the Merry Devil of Edmonton. Sometimes the landlady took her share of
entertaining the company. In either case, the omitting to pay them due
attention gave displeasure, and perhaps brought down a smart jest, as on
the following occasion:--A jolly dame who, not "sixty years since," kept
the principal caravansary at Greenlaw, in Berwickshire, had the honour
to receive under her roof a very worthy clergyman, with three sons of
the same profession, each having a cure of souls; be it said in passing,
none of the reverend party were reckoned powerful in the pulpit.
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