[A Tramp Abroad by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)]@TWC D-Link book
A Tramp Abroad

CHAPTER XX
9/13

We knew he had been in Europe some time, but were not at all expecting to run across him.
Both parties burst forth into loving enthusiasms, and Rev.Mr .-- ---- said: "I have got a brimful reservoir of talk to pour out on you, and an empty one ready and thirsting to receive what you have got; we will sit up till midnight and have a good satisfying interchange, for I leave here early in the morning." We agreed to that, of course.
I had been vaguely conscious, for a while, of a person who was walking in the street abreast of us; I had glanced furtively at him once or twice, and noticed that he was a fine, large, vigorous young fellow, with an open, independent countenance, faintly shaded with a pale and even almost imperceptible crop of early down, and that he was clothed from head to heel in cool and enviable snow-white linen.

I thought I had also noticed that his head had a sort of listening tilt to it.

Now about this time the Rev.Mr .------ said: "The sidewalk is hardly wide enough for three, so I will walk behind; but keep the talk going, keep the talk going, there's no time to lose, and you may be sure I will do my share." He ranged himself behind us, and straightway that stately snow-white young fellow closed up to the sidewalk alongside him, fetched him a cordial slap on the shoulder with his broad palm, and sung out with a hearty cheeriness: "AMERICANS for two-and-a-half and the money up! HEY ?" The Reverend winced, but said mildly: "Yes--we are Americans." "Lord love you, you can just bet that's what _I_ am, every time! Put it there!" He held out his Sahara of his palm, and the Reverend laid his diminutive hand in it, and got so cordial a shake that we heard his glove burst under it.
"Say, didn't I put you up right ?" "Oh, yes." "Sho! I spotted you for MY kind the minute I heard your clack.

You been over here long ?" "About four months.

Have you been over long ?" "LONG?
Well, I should say so! Going on two YEARS, by geeminy! Say, are you homesick ?" "No, I can't say that I am.


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