oon as he has made
a harvest in his present one."

"What do you think of Melchior, now that you have been so much with
him?"

"I think him an unprincipled man, but still with many good qualities.
He appears to have a pleasure in deceit, and to have waged war with the
world in general. Still he is generous, and, to a certain degree,
confiding; kind in his disposition, and apparently a very good husband.
There is something on his mind which weighs him down occasionally, and
checks him in the height of his mirth. It comes over him like a dark
cloud over a bright summer sun; and he is all gloom for a few minutes. I
do not think that he would now commit any great crime; but I have a
suspicion that he has done something which is a constant cause of
remorse."

"You are a very good judge of character, Japhet. But what a dear little
child is that Fleta! She may exclaim with you--'Who is my father?'"

"Yes, we are both in much the same predicament, and that it is which I
believe has so much increased my attachment to her. We are brother and
sister in misfortune, and a sister she ever shall be to me, if such is
the will of Heaven. But we must rise early to-morrow, Tim; so
good-night."

"Yes, to-morrow it will be juggle and tumble--eat fire--um--and so on,
as Mr Cophagus would have said; so good-night, Japhet."

The next morning we arrayed ourselves in our new habiliments; mine were
silk stockings, shoes, and white kerseymere kneed breeches, a blue silk
waistcoat loaded with tinsel, and a short jacket to correspond of blue
velvet, a sash round my waist, a hat and a plume of feathers. Timothy
declared I looked very handsome, and as the glass said the same as plain
as it could speak, I believed him. Timothy's dress was a pair of wide
Turkish trousers and red jacket, with spangles. The others were much the
same. Fleta was attired in small, white satin, Turkish trousers, blue
muslin and silver embroidered frock, worked sandals, and her hair
braided and plaited in long tails behind, and she looked like a little
sylph. Melchior's dress was precisely the same as mine, and a more
respectable company was seldom seen. Some musicians had been hired, and
handbills were now circulated all over the town, stating that Signor
Eugenio Velotti, with his company, would have the honour of performing
before the nobility and gentry. The bill contained the fare which was to
be provided, and intimated the hour of the performance, and the prices
to