第25章

WHAT BECAME OF GIGLIO

The idea of marrying such an old creature as Gruffanuff frightened Prince Giglio so, that he ran up to his room, packed his trunks, fetched in a couple of porters, and was off to the diligence office in a twinkling.

It was well that he was so quick in his operations, did not dawdle over his luggage, and took the early coach, for as soon as the mistake about Prince Bulbo was found out, that cruel Glumboso sent up a couple of policemen to Prince Giglio's room, with orders that he should be carried to Newgate, and his head taken off before twelve o'clock.But the coach was out of the Paflagonian dominions before two o'clock; and I dare say the express that was sent after Prince Giglio did not ride very quick, for many people in Paflagonia had a regard for Giglio, as the son of their old sovereign; a Prince who, with all his weaknesses, was very much better than his brother, the usurping, lazy, careless, passionate, tyrannical, reigning monarch.That Prince busied himself with the balls, fetes, masquerades, hunting-parties, and so forth, which he thought proper to give on occasion of his daughter's marriage to Prince Bulbo; and let us trust was not sorry in his own heart that his brother's son had escaped the scaffold.

It was very cold weather, and the snow was on the ground, and Giglio, who gave his name as simple Mr.Giles, was very glad to get a comfortable place in the coupe of the diligence, where he sat with the conductor and another gentleman.At the first stage from Blombodinga, as they stopped to change horses, there came up to the diligence a very ordinary, vulgar-looking woman, with a bag under her arm, who asked for a place.All the inside places were taken, and the young woman was informed that if she wished to travel, she must go upon the roof; and the passenger inside with Giglio (a rude person, I should think), put his head out of the window, and said, 'Nice weather for travelling outside! I wish you a pleasant journey, my dear.'

The poor woman coughed very much, and Giglio pitied her.'Iwill give up my place to her,' says he, 'rather than she should travel in the cold air with that horrid cough.' On which the vulgar traveller said, 'YOU'D keep her warm, I am sure, if it's a MUFF she wants.' On which Giglio pulled his nose, boxed his ears, hit him in the eye, and gave this vulgar person a warning never to call him MUFF again.

Then he sprang up gaily on to the roof of the diligence, and made himself very comfortable in the straw.

The vulgar traveller got down only at the next station, and Giglio took his place again, and talked to the person next to him.She appeared to be a most agreeable, well-informed, and entertaining female.They travelled together till night, and she gave Giglio all sorts of things out of the bag which she carried, and which indeed seemed to contain the most wonderful collection of articles.He was thirsty--out there came a pint bottle of Bass's pale ale, and a silver mug! Hungry--she took out a cold fowl, some slices of ham, bread, salt, and a most delicious piece of cold plum-pudding, and a little glass of brandy afterwards.

As they travelled, this plain-looking, queer woman talked to Giglio on a variety of subjects, in which the poor Prince showed his ignorance as much as she did her capacity.He owned, with many blushes, how ignorant he was; on which the lady said, 'My dear Gigl-- my good Mr.Giles, you are a young man, and have plenty of time before you.You have nothing to do but to improve yourself.Who knows but that you may find use for your knowledge some day? When--when you may be wanted at home, as some people may be.'

'Good heavens, madam!' says he, 'do you know me?'

'I know a number of funny things,' says the lady.'I have been at some people's christenings, and turned away from other folks' doors.I have seen some people spoilt by good fortune, and others, as I hope, improved by hardship.I advise you to stay at the town where the coach stops for the night.Stay there and study, and remember your old friend to whom you were kind.'

'And who is my old friend?' asked Giglio.

'When you want anything,' says the lady, 'look in this bag, which I leave to you as a present, and be grateful to--'

'To whom, madam?' says he.

'To the Fairy Blackstick,' says the lady, flying out of the window.And then Giglio asked the conductor if he knew where the lady was?

'What lady?' says the man; 'there has been no lady in this coach, except the old woman, who got out at the last stage.'

And Giglio thought he had been dreaming.But there was the bag which Blackstick had given him lying on his lap; and when he came to the town he took it in his hand and went into the inn.

They gave him a very bad bedroom, and Giglio, when he woke in the morning, fancying himself in the Royal Palace at home, called, 'John, Charles, Thomas! My chocolate--my dressing-gown--my slippers'; but nobody came.There was no bell, so he went and bawled out for water on the top of the stairs.

The landlady came up.

'What are you a hollering and a bellaring for here, young man?'

says she.

'There's no warm water--no servants; my boots are not even cleaned.'

'He, he! Clean 'em yourself,' says the landlady.'You young students give yourselves pretty airs.I never heard such impudence.'

'I'll quit the house this instant,' says Giglio.

'The sooner the better, young man.Pay your bill and be off.

All my rooms is wanted for gentlefolks, and not for such as you.'

'You may well keep the Bear Inn,' said Giglio.'You should have yourself painted as the sign.'

The landlady of the Bear went away GROWLING.And Giglio returned to his room, where the first thing he saw was the fairy bag lying on the table, which seemed to give a little hop as he came in.'I hope it has some breakfast in it,' says Giglio, 'for I have only a very little money left.' But on opening the bag, what do you think was there? A blackingbrush and a pot of Warren's jet, and on the pot was writtenPoor young men their boots must black:

Use me and cork me and put me back.