The squire himself mingled
among the rustics, and was received with awkward demonstrations of
deference and regard. It is true I perceived two or three of the
younger peasants, as they were raising their tankards to their mouths,
when the squire's back was turned, making something of a grimace,
and giving each other the wink; but the moment they caught my eye they
pulled grave faces, and were exceedingly demure. With Master Simon,
however, they all seemed more at their ease. His varied occupations
and amusements had made him well known throughout the neighborhood. He
was a visitor at every farmhouse and cottage; gossiped with the
farmers and their wives; romped with their daughters; and, like that
type of a vagrant bachelor, the humblebee, tolled the sweets from
all the rosy lips of the country round.
The bashfulness of the guests soon gave way before good cheer and
affability. There is something genuine and affectionate in the
gayety of the lower orders, when it is excited by the bounty and
familiarity of those above them; the warm glow of gratitude enters
into their mirth, and a kind word or a small pleasantry frankly
uttered by a patron, gladdens the heart of the dependent more than oil
and wine. When the squire had retired, the merriment increased, and
there was much joking and laughter, particularly between Master
Simon and a hale, ruddy-faced, white-headed farmer, who appeared to be
the wit of the village; for I observed all his companions to wait with
open mouths for his retorts, and burst into a gratuitous laugh
before they could well understand them.
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