he should perform the part of my valet.
Indeed, the more I reflected upon it, the greater appeared the
advantages which might accrue from the arrangement. By the time that
this point had been settled, we had arrived at the town to which we
directed our steps, and took up our quarters at an inn of moderate
pretensions, but of very great external cleanliness. My first object was
to find out some fitting asylum for little Fleta. The landlady was a
buxom, good-tempered young woman, and I gave the little girl into her
charge, while Timothy and I went out on a survey. I had made up my mind
to put her to some good, but not very expensive, school, if such were to
be found in the vicinity. I should have preferred taking her with me to
London, but I was aware how much more expensive it would be to provide
for her there; and as the distance from the metropolis was but twenty
miles, I could easily run down to see her occasionally. I desired the
little girl to call me her brother, as such I intended to be to her in
future, and not to answer every question they might put to her. There
was, however, little occasion for this caution; for Fleta was, as I
before observed, very unlike children in general. I then went out with
Timothy to look for a tailor, that I might order our clothes, as what we
had on were not either of the very best taste, or in the very best
condition. We walked up the main street, and soon fell in with a
tailor's shop, over which was written in large letters--"Feodor
Shneider, Tailor to his Royal Highness the Prince of Darmstadt."

"Will that do, Japhet?" said Timothy, pointing to the announcement.

"Why yes," replied I; "but how the deuce the Prince of Darmstadt should
have employed a man in a small country town as his tailor, is to me
rather a puzzle."

"Perhaps he made his clothes when he was in Germany," replied Tim.

"Perhaps he did; but, however, he shall have the honour of making mine."

We entered the shop, and I ordered a suit of the most fashionable
clothes, choosing my colours, and being very minute in my directions to
the foreman, who measured me; but as I was leaving the shop the master,
judging by my appearance, which was certainly not exactly that of a
gentleman, ventured to observe that it was customary with _gentlemen_,
whom they had not the honour of knowing, to leave a deposit. Although
the very proposal was an attack upon my gentility, I made no reply; but
pulling out a handful of guineas, l