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told me. How then, even if it were his ghost, could you have recognised him?" The Major's remarks reminded me of the imprudence I had been guilty of. "Major," replied I, "I believe I am very absurd; but he was so like me, and I have so often longed after my father, so long wished to see him face to face--that--that--I'm a great fool, that's the fact." "You must go to the next world, my good fellow, to meet him face to face, that's clear; and I presume, upon a little consideration, you will feel inclined to postpone your journey. Very often in your sleep I have heard you talk about your father, and wondered why you should think so much about him." "I cannot help it," replied I. "From my earliest days my father has ever been in my thoughts." "I can only say, that very few sons are half so dutiful to their fathers' memories--but finish your breakfast, and then we start for London." I complied with his request as well as I could, and we were soon on our road. I fell into a reverie--my object was to again find out this person, and I quietly directed Timothy to ascertain from the post-boys the directions he gave at the last stage. The Major perceiving me not inclined to talk, made but few observations; one, however struck me. "Windermear," said he, "I recollect one day, when I was praising you, said carelessly, 'that you were a fine young man, but a _little tete montee_ upon one point.' I see now it must have been upon this." I made no reply, but it certainly was a strange circumstance that the Major never had any suspicions on this point--yet he certainly never had. We had once or twice talked over my affairs. I had led him to suppose that my father and mother died in my infancy, and that I should have had a large fortune when I came of age; but this had been entirely by indirect replies, not by positive assertions; the fact was, that the Major, who was an adept in all deceit, never had an idea that he could have been deceived by one so young, so prepossessing, and apparently so ingenuous as myself. He had, in fact, deceived himself. His ideas of my fortune arose entirely from my asking him, whether he would have refused the name of _Japhet_ for ten thousand pounds per annum. Lord Windermear, after having introduced me, did not consider it at all necessary to acquaint the Major with my real history, as it was imparted to him in confidence. He allowed matters to take their course, and me to work my own way in th
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