CHAPTER XI

At half-past nine of the clock on the evening of this memorable day, a body of five-and-twenty stout young fellows, prize-winners, wrestlers, boxers, and topers, of the Hillford Club, set forth on a march to Ipley Common.

Now, a foreigner, hearing of their destination and the provocation they had endured, would have supposed that they were bent upon deeds of vengeance; and it requires knowledge of our countrymen to take it as a fact that the idea and aim of the expedition were simply to furnish the offending Ipley boys a little music.  Such were the idea and the aim.  Hillford had nothing to do with consequences:  no more than our England is responsible when she sails out among the empires and hemispheres, saying, ‘buy’ and ‘sell,’ and they clamour to be eaten up entire.  Foreigners pertinaciously misunderstand us.  They have the barbarous habit of judging by results.  Let us know ourselves better.  It is melancholy to contemplate the intrigues, and vile designs, and vengeances of other nations; and still more so, after we have written so many pages of intelligible history, to see them attributed to us.  Will it never be perceived that we do not sow the thing that happens?  The source of the flooding stream which drinks up those rich acres of low flat land is not more innocent than we.  If, as does seem possible, we are in a sort of alliance with Destiny, we have signed no compact, and accomplish our work as solidly and merrily as a wood-hatchet in the hands of the woodman.  This arrangement to give Ipley a little music, was projected as a return for the favours of the morning:  nor have I in my time heard anything comparable to it in charity of sentiment, when I consider the detestable outrage Hillford suffered under.

The parading of the drum, the trombone, a horn, two whistles, and a fife, in front of Hillford booth, caught the fancy of the Clubmen, who roared out parting adjurations that the music was not to be spared; and that Tom Breeks was a musical fellow, with a fine empty pate, if any one of the instruments should fail perchance.  They were to give Ipley plenty of music:  for Ipley wanted to be taught harmony.  Harmony was Ipley’s weak point.  “Gie ’em,” said one jolly ruddy Hillford man, “gie ’em whack fol, lol!” And he smacked himself, and set toward an invisible partner.  Nor, as recent renowned historians have proved, are observations of this nature beneath the dignity of chronicle.  They vindicate, as they localize, the sincerity of Hillford.

Really, to be an islander full of ale, is to be the kindest creature on or off two legs.  For that very reason, it may be, his wrath at bad blood is so easily aroused.  In our hot moods we would desire things like unto ourselves, and object violently to whatsoever is unlike.  And also we desire that the benefits we shed be appreciated.  If Ipley understands neither our music nor our intent, haply we must hold a performance on the impenetrable sconce of Ipley.