cannotsay，unlessitbethathewastheownerofacow，apigortwo，andsomepoultry，whichhemaintainedonaboutanacreoflandinclosedfromthemiddleofawildcommon，onwhichprobablyhisfatherhadsquattedbeforelordsofmanorslookedaskeenlyaftertheirrightsastheydonow。Herehehadlivednooneknewhowlong，asolitaryman。Itwasoftenrumouredthathewastobeturnedoutandhiscottagepulleddown，butsomehowitnevercametopass；andhispigsandcowwentgrazingonthecommon，andhisgeesehissedatthepassingchildrenandattheheelsofthehorseofmylord’ssteward，whooftenrodebywithacovetouseyeontheinclosurestillunmolested。Hisdwellingwassomemilesfromourvillage；soBenjy，whowashalfashamedofhiserrand，andwhollyunabletowalkthere，hadtoexercisemuchingenuitytogetthemeansoftransportinghimselfandTomthitherwithoutexcitingsuspicion。However，onefineMaymorninghemanagedtoborrowtheoldblindponyofourfriendthepublican，andTompersuadedMadamBrowntogivehimaholidaytospendwitholdBenjy，andtolendthemtheSquire’slightcart，storedwithbreadandcoldmeatandabottleofale。
AndsothetwoinhighgleestartedbehindoldDobbin，andjoggedalongthedeep-ruttedplashyroads，whichhadnotbeenmendedaftertheirwinter’swear，towardsthedwellingofthewizard。Aboutnoontheypassedthegatewhichopenedontothelargecommon，andoldDobbintoiledslowlyupthehill，whileBenjypointedoutalittledeepdingleontheleft，outofwhichwelledatinystream。Astheycreptupthehillthetopsofafewbirch-treescameinsight，andbluesmokecurlingupthroughtheirdelicatelightboughs；andthenthelittlewhitethatchedhomeandinclosedgroundofFarmerIves，lyingcradledinthedingle，withthegaygorsecommonrisingbehindandonbothsides；whileinfront，aftertraversingagentleslope，theeyemighttravelformilesandmilesovertherichvale。Theynowleftthemainroadandstruckintoagreentrackoverthecommonmarkedlightlywithwheelandhorse-shoe，whichleddownintothedingleandstoppedattheroughgateofFarmerIves。Heretheyfoundthefarmer，aniron-grayoldman，withabushyeyebrowandstrongaquilinenose，busiedinoneofhisvocations。Hewasahorseandcowdoctor，andwastendingasickbeastwhichhadbeensentuptobecured。Benjyhailedhimasanoldfriend，andhereturnedthegreetingcordiallyenough，lookinghoweverhardforamomentbothatBenjyandTom，toseewhethertherewasmoreintheirvisitthanappearedatfirstsight。ItwasaworkofsomedifficultyanddangerforBenjytoreachtheground，which，however，hemanagedtodowithoutmishap；andthenhedevotedhimselftounharnessingDobbinandturninghimoutforagraze“arun“onecouldnotsayofthatvirtuoussteedonthecommon。Thisdone，heextricatedthecoldprovisionsfromthecart，andtheyenteredthefarmer’swicket；andhe，shuttinguptheknifewithwhichhewastakingmaggotsoutofthecow’sbackandsides，accompaniedthemtowardsthecottage。Abigoldlurchergotupslowlyfromthedoor-stone，stretchingfirstonehindlegandthentheother，andtakingTom’scaressesandthepresenceofToby，whokept，however，atarespectfuldistance，withequalindifference。
“Usbecumtopay’eeavisit。I’veabeenlongmindedtodo’tforoldsake’ssake，onlyIvindsIdwon’tgetaboutnowasI’dusedto’t。Ibesoplaguybadwi’th’rheumatizinmyback。“
Benjypaused，inhopesofdrawingthefarmeratonceonthesubjectofhisailmentswithoutfurtherdirectapplication。
“Ah，Iseeasyoubean’tquitesolissomasyouwas，“repliedthefarmer，withagrimsmile，asheliftedthelatchofhisdoor；“webean’tsoyoungaswewas，notheronus，wussluck。“