Sleary’s Horsemanship

           Thenameofthepublic-housewasthePegasus’sArms.ThePegasus’slegsmighthavebeenmoretothepurpose;but,underneaththewingedhorseuponthesign-board,thePegasus’sArmswasinscribedinRomanletters.Beneaththatinscriptionagain,inaflowingscroll,thepainterhadtouchedoffthelines:

           Goodmaltmakesgoodbeer,

           Walkin,andthey’lldrawithere;

           Goodwinemakesgoodbrandy,

           Giveusacall,andyou’llfindithandy.

           Framedandglazeduponthewallbehindthedingylittlebar,wasanotherPegasus—atheatricalone—withrealgauzeletinforhiswings,goldenstarsstuckonalloverhim,andhisetherealharnessmadeofredsilk.

           Asithadgrowntooduskywithout,toseethesign,andasithadnotgrownlightenoughwithintoseethepicture,Mr.GradgrindandMr.Bounderbyreceivednooffencefromtheseidealities.Theyfollowedthegirlupsomesteepcorner-stairswithoutmeetinganyone,andstoppedinthedarkwhileshewentonforacandle.TheyexpectedeverymomenttohearMerrylegsgivetongue,butthehighlytrainedperformingdoghadnotbarkedwhenthegirlandthecandleappearedtogether.

           ‘Fatherisnotinourroom,sir,’shesaid,withafaceofgreatsurprise.‘Ifyouwouldn’tmindwalkingin,I’llfindhimdirectly.’Theywalkedin;andSissy,havingsettwochairsforthem,spedawaywithaquicklightstep.Itwasamean,shabbilyfurnishedroom,withabedinit.