'Thankee, Mr Pinch. Pretty well for that, I believe. It's not my fault,
you know. With regard to being spruce, sir, that's where it is, you
see.' And here he looked particularly gloomy.

'Where what is?' Mr Pinch demanded.

'Where the aggravation of it is. Any man may be in good spirits and good
temper when he's well dressed. There an't much credit in that. If I was
very ragged and very jolly, then I should begin to feel I had gained a
point, Mr Pinch.'

'So you were singing just now, to bear up, as it were, against being
well dressed, eh, Mark?' said Pinch.

'Your conversation's always equal to print, sir,' rejoined Mark, with a
broad grin. 'That was it.'

'Well!' cried Pinch, 'you are the strangest young man, Mark, I ever knew
in my life. I always thought so; but now I am quite certain of it. I am
going to Salisbury, too. Will you get in? I shall be very glad of your
company.'

The young fellow made his acknowledgments and accepted the offer;
stepping into the carriage directly, and seating himself on the very
edge of the seat with his body half out of it, to express his being
there on sufferance, and by the politeness of Mr Pinch. As they went
along, the conversation proceeded after this manner.

'I more than half believed, just now, seeing you so very smart,' said
Pinch, 'that you must be going to be married, Mark.'