ABSTRACT
I had continued only a few months in my Derbyshire retreat, when Holloway and Mallison once more made their appearance. This time it did not seem as if their visit was principally intended to me; they were rather guests to my landlord, the farmer. Holloway paid his respects to me, enquired whether every thing went on well, or was there any thing I wished should be otherwise; but seemed anxious to make his visits short and unobtrusive. At another time Mallison came in, and, after salutations given and received, informed me that he was going to ride over next morning / to the nearest market-town, and asked 230whether there was any commission he could execute for me. This went on for days. I thought it strange; but I felt a repugnance to enquiring into the matter. After all, I was not the master of the house, but merely the tenant of a certain part of it; and I had no right to call the farmer to account, as to what visitors he chose to receive at his own board. Still I should have been glad, that his guests, if guests he had, should rather have been persons that were entire strangers to me.
