CHAPTER XXI. THE EXPEDITION

it,whileMr.Sikesindulgedhimselfwiththreeorfourpipes,thatOliverbegantofeelquitecertaintheywerenotgoinganyfurther.Beingmuchtiredwiththewalk,andgettingupsoearly,hedozedalittleatfirstthen,quiteoverpoweredbyfatigueandthefumesofthetobacco,fellasleep. ItwasquitedarkwhenhewasawakenedbyapushfromSikes.Rousinghimselfsufficientlytositupandlookabouthim,hefoundthatworthyinclosefellowshipandcommunicationwithalabouringman,overapintofale. “So,you’regoingontoLowerHalliford,areyou?”inquiredSikes. “Yes,Iam,”repliedtheman,whoseemedalittletheworse—orbetter,asthecasemightbe—fordrinking“andnotslowaboutitneither.Myhorsehasn’tgotaloadbehindhimgoingback,ashehadcomingupinthemornin’andhewon’tbelonga-doingofit.Here’slucktohim.Ecod!he’sagood’un!” “Couldyougivemyboyandmealiftasfarasthere?”demandedSikes,pushingthealetowardshisnewfriend. “Ifyou’regoingdirectly,Ican,”repliedtheman,lookingoutofthepot.“AreyougoingtoHalliford?” “GoingontoShepperton,”repliedSikes. “I’myourman,asfarasIgo,”repliedtheother.“Isallpaid,Becky?” “Yes,theothergentleman’spaid,”repliedthegirl. “Isay!”saidtheman,withtipsygravity“thatwon’tdo,youknow.” “Whynot?”rejoinedSikes.“You’rea-goingtoaccommodateus,andwot’stopreventmystandingtreatforapintorso,inreturn?” Thestrangerreflecteduponthisargument,withaveryprofoundfacehavingdoneso,heseizedSikesbythehand:anddeclaredhewasarealgoodfellow.TowhichMr.Sikesreplied,hewasjokingas,ifhehadbeensober,therewouldhavebeenstrongreasontosupposehewas. Aftertheexchangeofafewmorecompliments,theybadethecompanygood-night,andwentoutthegirlgatheringupthepotsandglassesastheydidso,andloungingouttothedoor,withherhandsfull,toseethepartystart. Thehorse,whosehealthhadbeendrunkinhisabsence,wasstandingoutside:readyharnessedtothecart.OliverandSikesgotinwithoutanyfurtherceremonyandthemantowhomhebelonged,havinglingeredforaminuteortwo“tobearhimup,”andtodefythehostlerandtheworldtoproducehisequal,mountedalso.Then,thehostlerwastoldtogivethehorsehisheadand,hisheadbeinggivenhim,hemadeaveryunpleasantuseofit:tossingitint